Category Archives: Sweetie

Weekend Reflections – Bright Shiny Things

Last Sunday morning Sweetie and I left SuperPizzaBoy at home so he could ~~read poetry, listen to music and ponder important thoughts~~ play video games. (No we didn’t go to church, we were total sinners and didn’t feel bad about it either. I know that we are on your prayer list.) Oh, sorry, I got off track. We went to a local nursery to shop for plants.

At least Sweetie was shopping for plants. I brought my camera along and was taking pictures. Taking pictures (cuz I’m not a photographers, I don’t capture images, I take pictures) of the plants but also…

of the bright shiny stuff they have for sale there. I just can’t believe that let people like me take pictures for free.

I just love it. I also think its a case of bloggernomics. You don’t know what bloggernomics is? Here is a lesson. See all those bright shiny balls below. I don’t know how much each string of baubles is but if you are a blogger...

You get all of them for free!!!! That’s bloggernomics.

It applies to multiple flats of flowers or

a whole pile of reflective balls. And as a bonus you don’t have to haul them out to the car, or unload, and then haul to the back yard. Or water them, or replace them after hail storms or any of that other stuff that comes with the concept of “owning” things.

Is that a win/win or what?

And when we were all done I was happy, and so was Sweetie. Here she is watering the flowers we put in at her mother Nana’s house (World’s greatest MIL in case you are wondering who Nana is.) Look at Sweetie’s big smile.

Nana was happy also, and so was SuperPizzaBoy! No telling what he did at the house while we were gone. I don’t want to know. Trust me.

So, do have any good examples of bloggernomics?

Weekend Reflections

A Day for Our Mothers

Mother’s Day is a big deal to me. I mean where we would be without Mothers?

SuperPizzaBoy has always been tickled by Sweetie. My beautiful wife and mother to my son.

Not much has changed. Sweetie is still the sun that SPB’s planet revolves around.

I’m just afraid that there are no girls out there that can compete with SPB’s Mom.

My mother-in-law Nana is the world’s greatest. I have to tell you that she puts up with a lot from me. But I’m worth it, right? Uh, say right! Well lets move on.

My Sister Ellen is also a great mother. She has three beautiful daughters and a wonderful grandson Mr. Beans. Check out Ellen’s blog if you get a chance.

Speaking of great mothers, this is Ellen’s daughter Mary and Mr. Beans.

This is my favorite photo of my mother who has been gone for some years. She always had that Irish twinkle in her eye. She loved her family very much.

I don’t think that there was anybody that loved children more than my mother. Here she is getting acquainted with SuperPizzaBoy.

Be sure to appreciate the mothers in your life today.

Our World – The Prom

I’m kind of slow, I graduated from high school in the early 1970’s but this year I finally got to go to the Prom.

(for all you smart alecks out there, I am smiling. I’m very expressive you know.)

Of course it was SuperPizzaBoy’s Prom, but hey a prom is a prom right!

SPB didn’t really want to go but his mother talked him into it. Mother’s know best as a friend of mine put it.

Sweetie went because she was in charge of the food. I went because I didn’t want to spend the night home alone.

SPB started out in good shape, all tucked in and buttoned down. He checked out the chips and dip first.

The other kids started out a little slowly also. The girls looked very nice in their prom dresses.

Things slowly heated up. When Psy’s Gangnam Style started up, SPB couldn’t contain himself any longer. He loves that song. If you have not heard of it, count yourself lucky.

Things heated up rapidly after that.

Until everybody was fully into it. He was totally into it. Totally untucked and wrinkled and I don’t think his mother minded a bit.

Then a little rest while the King and Queen of the Prom were crowned and recognized. SPB and I left soon after that. He and will be back next year!

My advice is to not wait 40 years until after you graduate to go to the Prom. What is your advice?

Our World Tuesday

“What the Hell Happened?” – KC and the Sunshine Band

So what the hell did happen?

Well Sweetie’s birthday for one thing. We spent the day running around doing errands and fetching stuff.

Later on we headed out to the Cherokee Hard Rock Casino in nearby Catoosa for Sweetie’s birthday dinner at their McGills on 19 restaurant.. SuperPizzaBoy spent the evening with his Nana.

And then we went to see KC and the Sunshine Band at the Joint at the Casino.

Disco music was never my thing but KC put on a great show. The musicians and dancers were top notch. KC was very animated and engaging. He talked between songs a little about the up and downs of his career. “What the Hell Happened?” was the refrain all through the night.

He certainly connected with his audience. His fans were into it. He put on a good show.

Afterwards he signed autographs. I tried to get a photo of him and Sweetie but he was across a wide counter. So this is what we got folks.

The drummer, David Simmons, who Sweetie and I both agreed may be the best drummer we have ever heard showed up and chatted up everybody in line. He is a very nice guy.

Check out the bands website. Lots of good stuff there. Old songs and photographs and all that.

I loved this, a very young KC on his way up early in his career. A young man on his way up.

And I love this video. It typifies the whole disco thing with the funny clothes and dancing. In 1983 disco had flamed out and KC has kind of a hard look to him.

KC and the Sunshine Band has had its ups and downs. I have to admire somebody who keeps on plugging away. At 61 years told KC is still in there giving it everything he has.

And that is What the Hell Happened yesterday.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!

Hey it’s Somebody’s Birthday!

She’s aways in the mix.

Ready to Run

A great mother

A long suffering wife of a blogger. “Why yes, picking out potatoes is bloggable, you bet.”

Does her job one handed

Fancy headwear

She moves over water!

Happy Birthday Sweetie, I love you very much!

Sweetie and SuperPizzaBoy on Television

Guess What! SuperPizzaBoy’s school, Town and Country School, here in Tulsa moved into some spacious new digs over the summer. Everybody is under one roof and we have lots of extra room to grow. Town and Country School is a private school that specializes in kids that have learning differences such as ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome. SPB has been there since Third Grade and the school has been a life saver for him and other children.

Channel Eight here in Tulsa showed up last week to do a story on the school. Sweetie (aka Heather Bates) was interviewed. While she is talking there is video of SuperPizzaBoy doing his rarely seen academic act.

KTUL.com – Tulsa, Oklahoma – News, Weather

I’m so proud of everybody. The Head of School has provided a big dose of leadership doing the move and afterward. Of course at small private schools everybody has two or three jobs to do right.

And being the wicked witch at Halloween is one of them. Of course a smile like hers gives it away.

And here are the two stars of the show!

Do I need to get them an agent?

Happy Anniversary Sweetie

Sweetie is always up for some fun

She loves pulling on your tail feathers every now and then.

Always up for anything, the grand daughter of a rancher.

She loves critters, and you can see they love her.

She is my best friend

We’ve had lots of fun together

We’ve been together for 23 years!

Happy Anniversary Sweetie

Here’s to 23 more!

SuperPizzaBoy Goes on a Ride

SuperPizzaBoy has been participating in Therapeutic Horseback Riding for some time now. But it was time for a change.

His old therapy place had volunteers lead the horses while the clients rode. It works wonders but SPB was ready for a step up. Something the old place couldn’t do for various reasons.

So Sweetie went to work researching the issue, hard, as is her style. She was looking for a place that was safe and dedicated to the kids. After calling and checking and researching and then visiting she found All Star Therapy out of Ramona, a ways north of Tulsa on the way to Bartlesville.

So Sweetie and SPB went up and checked it out and we got SPB all signed up. Today was his first ride.

He has a little ways to go before he joins the pro rodeo circuit but guiding the horse is a whole new ballgame compared to sitting on the horse while somebody leads it.

I don’t know a thing about horses and even less about riding horses but I think a horse is looking for a little leadership from the rider. So the rider just can’t check out.

They had son guide the horse around the arena for a while while doing various exercises and then he went out for a ride on a short trail.

It was about ten minutes but SPB had to guide the horse along the trail.

Sweetie couldn’t be there. A family baby shower in western Oklahoma had to be attended. But hey I was there to document the affair. So I guess she did all the work and I get the glory, right? She’d say “So, sounds about normal to me.” And she’d be right.

Way to go my gentle giant of a son, take a bow Sweetie!! You both are wonderful.

Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s in my life.

Especially Sweetie, my wife and best friend and mother to our child, even if he towers over her now. He couldn’t have a better Mother nor one that loves him as much as Sweetie does. The love of a mother is awesome to behold.

My Mother-in-Law Nana, best MIL in the world.

My Sister, Ellen, who brought three daughters up to be very capable women.

Two of her daughters, Jillian on the right, and Mary on the left, mother to my nephew, Mr. Beans, seen at the far left.

My favorite picture (stains and all) of my Mother. She has been gone some years now. I think about her every day and I miss her very much. So much of her personality comes out in this photo.

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels…
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
He husband also praises her:
Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

Check out Perfect Pairings. Tell Baloney Happy Birthday!

Weekend Reflections – Tulsa Garden Center

I was at the Tulsa Garden Center awating my assigned duties from Sweetie for carting stuff from the attic of the Center to the basement while I took this shots.

The Garden Center was originally built by an Tulsa Oilman back in the day who then donated it to the city.

Lots of events go on here but if nothing is going on they let the public wander through. It is quite interesting.

Sweetie is involved in their “Little Green Thumbs” children’s gardening program there. She was getting everything ready for the coming season. They don’t have their schedule set yet but check the link above periodically if you are interested.

The Tulsa Garden Center is part of a complex that includes the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens, a huge rose garden, an arboretum, green house, and Woodward Park. They also share a parking lot with the Tulsa Historical Society. If you visit Tulsa you have to come by. You just gotta!

Weekend Reflections