Close encounters of the signing kind [Archive] - Signing Time Forums

taylorcamel

11-13-2005, 12:22 PM

One of the things that is so great about the signing time family is that they are a real family that is totally involved with the whole process of making wonderful signing products. This is not some huge impersonal company. They really care about what they are doing. You can tell because they really interact with their customers and make all of us feel like part of the family too. Many of us have experienced this first hand because we have talked with them or met them in person. So here is your chance to share your close encounters with the signing time gang. Have you been to a filming or party? Did you get to go to camp? Did you get a surprise visit at a playgroup or a call or email? Tell us all about it.

taylorcamel

11-13-2005, 12:40 PM

We made a trip out to Utah (drove from Oklahoma) for filming baby signing time. We weren't even sure that we would see the Coleman family because they didn't need to be at the filming for the B role but we were excited just to have a chance. Imagine our surprise when my cell phone rings in the middle of Wal Mart in Salt Lake City and it is THE Rachel Coleman. She wanted to invite us out to dinner because she wanted to make sure we all got to meet. One other family flew from New Jersey (Chris and Aisling) so because we had both come from so far away the Colemans took us out to dinner. Well it was wonderful to get to meet Rachel, Aaron, Lucy and Leah in person and we had a great time. Rachel did make it to the shoot as well and was very helpful in trying to get Cameron to sign for the camera. We also got to meet at the Gateway mall with a big group of signing time fans during that trip. That is what my signature picture is from.
A few months later we made a return drive to Utah for signing time camp and got to meet lots of great people and do lots of fun activities. We have also had many emails and surprise packages come from Rachel.
It seems like the signing time gang always has something going on that includes the fans. I don't know of any other company that goes to such lengths to make sure their customers are involved. Hopefully after our baby is born we will have another chance to visit so our newest little family member gets a chance to meet our signing friends too.

kimberly

11-13-2005, 10:02 PM

This is Carter with his cousin Alex. We're lucky to have lots of close encounters. :) Leah is Alex's cousin on the other side. We had the chance to meet Rachel and Leah when we lived in Utah -- years and years ago (Leah was probably only two years old). We'd love to see them again sometime!

taylorcamel

11-15-2005, 09:58 PM

kimberly

11-15-2005, 10:08 PM

We made a trip out to Utah (drove from Oklahoma) for filming baby signing time.

Cute picture of your own! I am totally impressed by all of those who went out to Utah for the filming of BST! Sounds like you had a great time. Did you also get to meet Emilie and her son Zach? That little boy is a real cutie, too.

taylorcamel

11-16-2005, 03:28 PM

Cute picture of your own! I am totally impressed by all of those who went out to Utah for the filming of BST! Sounds like you had a great time. Did you also get to meet Emilie and her son Zach? That little boy is a real cutie, too.

We met Emilie at the shoot but Alex and Zach were not there. We did get to meet Alex at camp but still haven't had the chance to meet Zach (he had just had his toncils out so he missed camp). All the kids are adorable though. We love seeing Zach on BST. We also got to meet alot of the extended family- Grandmas, Grandpas, cousins, aunts, etc. Everyone was so nice. What a great family.

amiller

11-16-2005, 04:00 PM

We went out to Utah for Baby Signing Time as well, and had a blast. I got a kick out of watching Rachel explain in voice and sign to Leah why the guests at the pizza party couldn't go outside ("somebody - not me - forgot to clean up after buddy, and all these little kids out there and [rude noise here] - GROSS!")

But anyway, later that month I got on the internet and found a Chinese restaurant in the SLC area and called them up to have them deliver to the Coleman house. Just to be nice, as a surprise. And a little while later, the phoe rings, and I hear "Hello, Aly? it's Rachel Coleman. We just got a delivery of Chinese food with your phone number on it!" I couldn't believe she tracked me down so fast! It was a trip, I was so flattered that she called! Of course she totally laughed at me when i explained that I called up the restaurant and said "send your most popular chicken, beef, vegetable and one other entree over" - and when I explained I was calling from San Antonio, I don't think the poor worker believed me!

taylorcamel

11-17-2005, 06:01 AM

Aly I love this story. Thank you for sharing it. It was very smart of you to figure out how to send food all the way from Texas. :o

We went out to Utah for Baby Signing Time as well, and had a blast. I got a kick out of watching Rachel explain in voice and sign to Leah why the guests at the pizza party couldn't go outside ("somebody - not me - forgot to clean up after buddy, and all these little kids out there and [rude noise here] - GROSS!")

But anyway, later that month I got on the internet and found a Chinese restaurant in the SLC area and called them up to have them deliver to the Coleman house. Just to be nice, as a surprise. And a little while later, the phoe rings, and I hear "Hello, Aly? it's Rachel Coleman. We just got a delivery of Chinese food with your phone number on it!"

amiller

11-17-2005, 06:09 AM

It was very smart of you to figure out how to send food all the way from Texas. :o

Totally not hard - what on earth did people DO before the Internet!?

strykersmommy

11-17-2005, 11:01 AM

They probably didn't order take out for people in other states....

amiller

11-17-2005, 11:04 AM

They probably didn't order take out for people in other states....

LOL! They probably didn't know there WAS take-out in other states!

flagger

11-17-2005, 02:55 PM

So I am sitting in a Fed-ex/Kinko's in downtown SLC on a Sunday afternoon in March when all of the sudden my phone rings.

It is an 801 number (area code for SLC for those who do not know).

"Hello?"

"Is this Flagger?"

"uh...yeah"

"I mean is this THE Flagger?"

"Yes who is this?"

"Are you sitting at the computer station at the Kinko's on 2nd (???) Street?"

[This point in the conversation is where I feel like I have teleported into some Matt Damon starring as Jason Bourne movie.]

"Yeah and who wants to know?"

[Cause sounding all gruff when you think you are being watched is important at least in the world of movie logic.]

"This is Aaron Coleman."

"Who? I mean I know Rachel Coleman, but there is more?" (I am kidding at this point but as a SAHD myself I am known only as Laura's husband)

"Aaron Coleman, father to Leah and Lucy, husband to Rachel."

"Oh, and this is supposed to impress me how exactly?" (I figure my turn to be cocky since I now need to go home and change my shorts because I have had the willikers scared out of me)

"Rachel wants to talk to you."

(Geez great now I have been cocky and I am about to be told they had too many kids and there is no place to fit Cocoa into the shooting schedule> What am I gonna do around here for three days?)

"Ok great...Hi Rachel!"

"Hey Chuck how are you doing? Leah and I just got back from Florida and wanted to know if you wanted to meet for dinner. How does 6:30 at Thai Foon at Gateway sound?"

"That sounds great and tell Aaron I was just kidding."

amiller

11-17-2005, 04:24 PM

ROFL Chuck!

taylorcamel

11-17-2005, 06:04 PM

So I am sitting in a Fed-ex/Kinko's in downtown SLC on a Sunday afternoon in March when all of the sudden my phone rings.

I was hoping you would post your story Chuck. Too funny!

Lets keep this going. I know lots of you have close encounter stories.

Krista

11-17-2005, 06:07 PM

I don't have any "close encounters" personally, but I wanted to say how impressed I was when I emailed Rachel about 3 years ago to ask a question about how to sign something (I think it was "juice", lol), and she wrote me back. Coming from southern California, it's not often that you find a company that is so approachable. I was equally impressed to find Rachel posting on the Yahoo group too.

taylorcamel

11-17-2005, 06:42 PM

Well that counts as a close encounter and I bet you will have more. They are great about personally getting in touch with people.

I don't have any "close encounters" personally, but I wanted to say how impressed I was when I emailed Rachel about 3 years ago to ask a question about how to sign something (I think it was "juice", lol), and she wrote me back. Coming from southern California, it's not often that you find a company that is so approachable. I was equally impressed to find Rachel posting on the Yahoo group too.

Rachel

11-19-2005, 09:59 PM

I've been surprised as well you know!

Flying from SLC to LASVEGAS on SWA I was talking with the person sitting next to me. ST! came up and I was explaining what I do. When we landed and taxied to the gate I heard "It's Signing Time with Alex and Leah! It's Signing Time with Alex and Leah! Come and PLAY!!"

I figured it MUST be someone I know, a family member or friend. As I looked around bewildered the family sitting in front of me turned around and said, "We thought IT was you!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
We started referring to this as being "Signing Timed." For example - "I got Signing Timed in Costco!"

Rachel

11-19-2005, 10:25 PM

Last year at the end of Lucy's modern dance class recital, I gave some DVD's to each of her classmates. This is a "Special Populations" class- all the kids have some special needs.

We signed up again this year and just last Tuesday, Leah sat in on the class as well. One little boy came up to Leah and said, "Welcome to our class. What's your name?" She answered "Leah." And his response was hysterical - "Leah, no way!!! I have these shows, "It's Signing Time with Alex and Leah!" And there is a girl on the shows and HER name is Leah too! But she is Deaf and she uses sign language to communicate, that's tlaking with your hands!"
All of the adults were giggling and trying to get a word in, since they ALL have seen a ST! episode or 2.

Finally - one of the mom's said, "Buddy, THAT IS Leah! That girl is Leah, she is deaf, she is in the shows, she is Lucy's big sister!"

LOLOL- come to think of it, he still has never recognized me! :o

Krista

11-19-2005, 10:47 PM

Kei_as_in_K

11-20-2005, 06:11 AM

one of the mom's said, "Buddy, THAT IS Leah! That girl is Leah, she is deaf, she is in the shows, she is Lucy's big sister!"

LOLOL- come to think of it, he still has never recognized me!
__________________
Rachel Coleman ~Mom to Leah age 8 and Lucy age 5
"Luck favors the prepared!" - The Incredibles

I take it you weren't wearing your ST! outfit ;)

It's so funny when you were here that William didn't acknowledge you were THE RACHEL until you went to the school in your ST! outfit.
And it really cracks me up that when Alex first came down in the morning, William took one look at him and said, "Mom, mom, 'ook, Ayex... mom, 'ook~ Ayex!!!" and then looked around and asked, "Where Leah?" even tho he had been hanging around Leah the whole day & night before!

amiller

11-20-2005, 07:09 AM

I take it you weren't wearing your ST! outfit

Anyka recognized her right away, even not in her ST! outfit, at the BST shoot! She was super excited to give Rachel a hug - but she calls Rachel, Alex, and Leah by a collective name - "Hasheeah" - her version of "Alex and Leah" - for example, "I watch Hasheeah" "That picture Hasheeah"

taylorcamel

11-20-2005, 05:54 PM

What's your name?" She answered "Leah." And his response was hysterical - "Leah, no way!!! I have these shows, "It's Signing Time with Alex and Leah!" And there is a girl on the shows and HER name is Leah too! But she is Deaf and she uses sign language to communicate, that's tlaking with your hands!"
All of the adults were giggling and trying to get a word in, since they ALL have seen a ST! episode or 2.

Finally - one of the mom's said, "Buddy, THAT IS Leah! That girl is Leah, she is deaf, she is in the shows, she is Lucy's big sister!"

LOLOL- come to think of it, he still has never recognized me! :o

Thanks for sharing this funny story.
I bet this happens to y'all alot now that Leah and Alex have grown so much. I can see how a lot of kids would not think they are the same people because they look so different.
You should show up in your ST outfit and see how he reacts.

I bet y'all will get signing timed all the time once the shows start airing on public TV.

MomofJBN

11-20-2005, 07:07 PM

I bet y'all will get signing timed all the time once the shows start airing on public TV.

Is ST going to be on TV??? When? Where?

kimberly

11-20-2005, 10:40 PM

Is ST going to be on TV??? When? Where?
Signing Time! has a contract in the works with PBS. They should start airing next fall -- I think??

kimberly

11-20-2005, 10:54 PM

I had to share this too...

Three or four years ago, during a Christmas vacation, Alex came up to me and asked if I had his video. Thinking he was looking for a misplaced VHS tape, I told him, "No, but maybe Uncle Tyler has it". He sweetly corrected me by saying, "I mean, do you have the video that I am the star of"? :cool: LOL. He had already adopted the "Signing Timed" personality! Of course, being as young as he was, he really didn't understand the whole movie star thing. We all got a really good laugh out of it though! It was too cute.

MomofJBN

11-21-2005, 03:38 PM

LOL. That's cute! A star and a salesman.

Christene

11-22-2005, 12:54 PM

nothing as cool as a personal phone call/dinner invite ;)
but it was pretty great getting to meet everyone at the Charlemont event...thanks Kei for making that happen!

Pictures (http://home.earthlink.net/~psmi/Signing_Time.htm)

Kei_as_in_K

11-22-2005, 01:13 PM

but it was pretty great getting to meet everyone at the Charlemont event
Pictures (http://home.earthlink.net/~psmi/Signing_Time.htm)
Thanks for posting the link to your pictures... I can never get enough of them!! It went by so quickly, I look at the pictures from everyone to remind myself they really were here!

Krista

11-22-2005, 01:45 PM

Signing Time! has a contract in the works with PBS. They should start airing next fall -- I think??

OMG how exciting!
Are they going to be new shows? OR will it be the same as what's on the DvD's?

taylorcamel

11-22-2005, 02:07 PM

OMG how exciting!
Are they going to be new shows? OR will it be the same as what's on the DvD's?

It will be 1-6 as well as the new ones 7-13. I don't think it included baby signing time at the moment. Hopefully more will come after everyone sees how great 1-13 are. They are planning to start airing them in January, I believe, on public TV. :D

HopesMommy

12-28-2005, 11:53 AM

Ok, I'm just now seeing this and I'm sooooo happy. Please tell me this is still true?! ROFL. Hope will be excited too!!!

emschwar

01-14-2006, 03:15 PM

These are great stories! I love them! I wish we lived closer.

Bill

06-13-2006, 10:44 AM

cute picture!! I live in Seattle with my wife. Nice
to meet you!!

drop by sometime and chat

andrealynnj

12-10-2006, 10:12 PM

Imani and I went to the Dance Along Nutcracker last night. It was an experience that sort of defies description so I wont try.
A giant of a man sat in front of us who was so sweet! He gave Imani a coupon for a tutu rental and was having so much fun that we were delighted to sit behind this friendly giant.

He saw me signing with Imani and he asked why, I explained and when she signed "Thank you", he signed back "Your Welcome"

When the glitter covered woman playing old Clara began to sing White Christmas, he turned around and signed the whole song to Imani! It was beautiful to watch and touching.

And had we not been signing we never would have made this great connection with this old bear! Hoorah for ASL!!!

Andrea

ST! LeeAnn

12-11-2006, 09:19 AM

Thanks you for sharing your beautiful experience. It brought tears to my eyes as I read it. That is truly what the Holidays should be, finding things we have in common with loved one and strangers alike.

Happy Holidays!
LeeAnn

Thdoy2

08-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Signing Time came to the John Ball Zoo in Michigan recently and we traveled from the Chicago 'burbs to Grand Rapids to see the show and hopefully meet Rachel. She performed with Hopkins in two shows under the HOT sun and was fantastic.

She met with people afterwards and then talked, signed ST DVD covers and took pictures with families. We were far from first on that hot day, but she was very friendly and we talked briefly. My kids are even more bigger ST fans since that day and I didn't think that was possible.

Lynja_the_ninja

04-20-2008, 02:51 PM

I have a friend that is Hard of hearing. most people don't understand that she can't hear because she has aids and lip reads really well. yesterday, she was down to one aid at the beginning of a baby shower we were hosting and about 1/2 way through her one good aid broke. I was signing up a storm trying my best to interpret (an interpreter I am not!!)
I was really glad that I have been able to keep my skills up (somewhat) with the help of Signing Time and the friends that I have to practice with.

jenml

04-20-2008, 06:49 PM

....about 1/2 way through her one good aid broke. I was signing up a storm trying my best to interpret (an interpreter I am not!!)
I was really glad that I have been able to keep my skills up (somewhat) with the help of Signing Time and the friends that I have to practice with.

Hooray for you! So nice of you to step in. What an excellent way to keep your skills up!