Category Archives: Logan

Robotic Zombie Babies

I have a story to tell. It’s mainly a true story but once upon a time Logan and his band of merry co-conspirators were going to a Godzilla premier party last Friday night followed by a trip to the movies to see the film.. We were going to pick up Logan and his friend, well, we’ll just call the friend Doug. We were going to take them home so they could “hang out” as the kids say these days. Oh they were really looking forward to it.

Only thing is that when Doug come walking out of the school he has a baby carrier with him. Huh?? Oh, poor kid has been stuck with a robot baby for the weekend for his Social Skills class. Take a look at the baby.

Isn’t it cute? It comes with a diaper bag and instructions. It is a computerized baby that cries and needs fed and changed and in generally taken care of. Apparently there is a pretty good market for such babies for use by schools teaching about parenthood.

The baby was supposed to “go live” at 4 pm. That kind of put a damper on the hanging out. 4 PM came and went and not a peep out of the baby. It came time to drive to their friend’s house (we’ll call him Flynn) where the party was going to be. We all loaded in the car including “baby” and headed off to Flynn’s house.

5 PM came and still no peep, Logan and Doug started relaxing because they decided that Baby’s batteries were discharged. Well…

At 5:09 baby woke up. At first with that quiet muffled cry that baby’s get when they wake up. Doug and Logan looked at each other and had that look like they hoped that baby’s crying wasn’t going to get too bad. Baby proceeded to quickly go from a quiet cry, to a “Hey, is anybody out there? type exploratory cry.” To a “I’m really pissed off and I am going to kill somebody full throated howl.” Then either Heather or I said that they better take care of the baby.

Then it was hilarious, Doug was trying to hold the baby but didn’t quite know how to do it, and was yelling for Logan to find out what to do and Logan was scrambling through the diaper bag looking for the instruction book.

Baby was getting louder and louder, Logan was saying “Oh gosh, Oh gosh.” Doug was trying to hold the baby in different positions. And I was being really helpful saying stuff like “Don’t worry guys, Flynn will know what to do!” and then just grinning to myself. Doug and Logan reminded of me of new parents of a baby.

Eventually the instructions were found and the baby’s button pressed and it calmed down. We got to Flynn’s house and the baby was quiet but Logan and Doug were totally worn out. Flynn didn’t know what he was getting into but Flynn’s parents were looking at the now sleeping baby skeptically. I was just wondering if they were going to try and take the baby to the theater.

So we left wondering what was to happen, glad that it wasn’t our problem.

I’m sorry to report that the baby got left in the car during the movies. Is there a DHS for robotic babies? They did better than I would have though. I would have left the baby at the house. Apparently the babies are computerized so that the teacher can download a file and find out just how well or badly somebody treated their baby.

We were just glad that Logan had done the alternate assignment that was a report on the costs of having a baby. We all got our sleep.

Have you had to take care of a robot Baby?

Man of La Mancha

We are very proud of our son Logan. He gave a great performance at his recital yesterday (which I didn’t record due to depleted batteries, ugh) at Brook Fine Arts here in Tulsa. He sand “Man of La Mancha” from the musical. All of the kids on the varied program did great also. Afterward they announced a Studio Award for not necessarily the best performer but one who has improved a lot, works hard during his lessons, has a great attitude, is always on time, and always ready. That award went to Logan. We are very proud of him.

Of course behind every great performer is a great teacher, mother and grandmother. Heather is the one who helps him practice and provides encouragement and keeps him going. Logan’s grandmother, Nana, is the one who shows him how to sell the performance and watches the great musicals with him. Kudo’s to them both. What a support team.

His voice teacher Katie at Brook is very patient and supportive. We are very greatful to her for coaxing the efforts out of Logan.

Logan is growing up fast and dealing with lots of change. Later on this summer he is participating in the Oklahoma Youth Leadership forum and Falls Creek Summer Camp. Next Fall he has been accepted at Metro Christian Academy. He is really stepping up and out into this world and I couldn’t be prouder of him.

Happy Mother’s Day Heather

She was there at the beginning when he was protesting

He is still protesting and she is still with him. She is the SuperMom!

And a Scary Ride Buddy

Who else would he take to the big dance?

Or go find the Great Pumpkin with?

Or share his deepest thoughts?

She’s been the freezing soccer mom!

And wardrobe consultant

There’s nothing like Mom, Pooh, and a bottle of warm milk

There is nobody like her!

Happy Mother’s Day Heather! We love you very much!

First Ride of the Season

Saturday was a glorious day. Sunny, cool, breezy, and dry. At All-Star Therapy Group, Logan got to ride out across the pasture and through the woods for the first time this year. Of course I came along to document the event.

The new green of Spring is great. Everything is very lush right now right now in northeastern Oklahoma. As one heads west it dries out quickly and there have been several big grass fires not too far away.

But on Saturday we were just enjoying the riding and walking through the pasture and woods.

When was the last time you went on a walk through the woods?

Back to the Future at the Celebrity Car Museum in Branson

Here in Branson we went to see Heather’s friend Raine who works at the Celebrity Car Museum. Raines is not only a car guy, he is quite an artist. He painted the Back to the Future themed mural above and almost all of the other art work in the museum. He is a busy man and generously took time to show us everything in the museum.

One of the special cars they have is a 1981 Delorean DMC-12, one of six used in the Back to the Future trilogy of films. As Raine put it, Heather is sitting where Michael J. Fox sat.

Personally, I think Heather looks better than Michael J. Fox ever did on his best day.

Of course, we had to try the time travel part of the car to see if it still worked.

So here is Logan present day. And then we dialed in four years ago, pushed the button and ….

Ooops, who shrunk the kid!!

Have you ever sat where Michael J. Fox sat?

Have you ever traveled through time? I want to hear about it.

A Tale of Woe in Four Photographs

#snapseed #spooky #creepy #apartments #downtowntulsa #igersok

How can a place be sunny and dark all at the same time?

Sunday was a great day, cool, sunny, and clear. Heather went shopping with her Mom.

Logan and I decided to go close to downtown to see what what we could see. I took along my Holga 135 PC Pinhole Camera.

Logan at #cainsballroom in the #bradydistrict #tulsa #oklahoma #igersok

Kid has never heard of Bob Wills.
Did you know that Bob Will’s grave is a virtual geocache here in Tulsa?

We checked out Cain’s Ballroom, or at least the sign and Reunification Plaza, the Meadowgold Sign on Route 66, and ONEOK Field.

We never figured out what the deal was with the shopping carts. We liked the color though.

We checked out the murals behind the Living Art. I shot a whole roll of 36 exposures.

I dropped them off at Walgreen’s and then came home. Heather came home and we went to the Rib Crib for some Q.

#selfie by Logan at #livingarts #mural #art #publicart #downtowntulsa #oklahoma #igersok

How do you like my new girlfriend?
She certainly has a full set of teeth.

After the Q, I went back to Walgreen’s and not a single exposure was usable.

Bummer.

It was still a good day though.

Thank Goodness for Smart Phone Cameras and Ipods.

“What is Love” at the Prom

A few weeks ago Logan’s school had their prom. I was sick at the time and just popped my head in long enough to get everybody else sick and look around a little bit so I missed almost all of it. Somebody else took these photos and shared them with us.

It’s Logan and his classmates bobbing their heads to the song “What is Love” in parody to the popular Jim Carrey skits on Saturday Night Live. I wasn’t there but Heather told me that Logan kept saying “I don’t get it!” You see he has never seen SNL. Cuz he is a kid you see.

Oh I wish I could have been there to see it but I got the pics. I love seeing the kid having fun.

Do you get it?

Signs, Signs, – Stokely Event Center

The best place in Tulsa for taking pics of signs is the Stokely Event Center. I’ve been there a few times taking pics of their outside signs but had never been inside. It is a cool place. They have their own geocache so you know they are cool, right?

Logan’s school had his prom there. Here is all spiffed up. I think he even liked his outfit. And that is saying something.

Heather helped with the event. (I just have to brag on her. Isn’t she beautiful? What does she see in me? That last was just a hypothetical question that you don’t need to answer!) I just got to drop off Logan and his buddy and then go home. I was ill you see and didn’t need to be getting the youngin’s sick.

I snuck inside anyway for a little while (yep snuck is a word here in Oklahoma. ) Talk about signs, the inside of the place is is a riot. Signs of all kinds everywhere. Many of them neon signs.

I liked the soft drink section. I’ve had most of these except I have never heard of Delaware Punch or Dandee. Anybody out there have those?

I was eyeing the shuffleboard table. Heather and I did a lot of our courting playing shuffleboard. It is still our game. But, I could only stay a few minutes and she was working and the event was for the kids. I thought about coughing on it and announcing a quarentine but decided not to.

I bet not too many of the kids knew what this is. I bet you most adults who knew, don’t remember. Oh, and then I had to go home.

Where me and LJ watched a few episodes of Breaking Bad. My newest obsession. (I’m telling you for one last time to quit looking so stumped on what she sees in me!)

Signs, Signs.

I Don’t Know About You But I’m Tired of This

Anybody else tired of all the ice and snow? It won’t be long now. The days are getting longer and the sun higher. Spring will be here before you know it.

Logan had his school prom Friday night. I was under the weather so I just popped in. A good time was had by all I’m told. The venue took the photo below with all the kids. It is a small school but mighty. Logan is the guy wearing the red vest to the left. Heather told me that he danced and socialized and had a great time. I was home watching more episodes of Breaking Bad.

Post by Stokely Event Center.

I think they had more fun than I did!

Going on a Walk with the Kid

Sunday was a great day. I knew that I was going to be watching a lot of football and I wanted to get outside. Before the games started. Actually I dvr’d the games. Who watches games in real time any more? I dragged Logan along with me. He hates to be seen in public with his Dad now days. I don’t blame him.

We went to Lafortune Park here in Tulsa. It’s a big, combination county park and golf course and tennis complex, and library, and gardens (kind of) with a high school campus in South Tulsa. It has a nice walking track all the way around it and makes for a three mile loop. I’ve run it and walked it hundreds of times in our 22 years here in Tulsa. I love it.

In addition to the tennis players we saw golfers.

And trees, Tulsa has lots of trees. I practiced using the backlighting setting on my camera. I’m in my bare tree mode now days. Happens every winter.

We saw some playgrounds. This is a Y playground across the road from Lafortune Park. The park has some nice playgrounds that were loaded with kids. I’m not really into taking pictures of other people’s kids. Some parents don’t like you doing that and I’m totally okay with them not liking it. So I don’t generally do it.

We saw some water features and bridges on the par three course.

And another bare tree.

I love this moose. He has the most comical look on his face. Why does Lafortune Park have a moose sculpture? If you find out tell me and then we’ll both know.

And a duck pond. They all moved away from me. I don’t blame them. Nobody was cooperating on Sunday.

And a swimming pool Notice the orange hazard fencing. Safety first folks! Some safety person probably required the fencing to go up.

And then more golfers. I had to tell son that it is impolite, but very funny, to yell, “You the MAN!!” when somebody hits the ball. Unless its your boss or a customer, then you say “OH My Gawd! Bob, look how far that went! Look at that thing go” Just make sure that he or she doesn’t whiff it. It comes across a sarcasm then.

Then we come across some manly machinery. Or semi manly anyway. That is like the smallest trackhoe I’ve ever seen.

And a bull dozer and a front end loader. Have I ever told you that I love construction equipment of all kinds?

When we end, he asks in that deep booming voice that he’s getting “Can we go to Game Stop and get a points card.” Whatever a points card is. Something to do with video games. You download “content” with it he tells me. What’s content. I’m such a burden to the young man.

So, what did you do Sunday before the games?