House adjacent to Henthorne Park here in Tulsa. I love the shadows we get this time of year.
Category Archives: Tulsa
Catching Some Rays
Things are crazy at work now days. The energy industry has just gone plum crazy. I had a working lunch meeting with some customers who flew up from Houston today. We meet and eat sandwiches during the meeting. I do that a lot a now. Packing more business into the day. Well, we had a good meeting and after they left I looked out the window and its a beautiful day. Time for a quick round to see what is going on.
I headed over to out beautiful BOK Center. Tulsa has their Christmas Tree up already. It seems a little early to me.What do you think. So many facebook friends are bragging about their Christmas trees. Hey what about Thanksgiving?
As an engineer I had to check out the refrigeration for the temporary ice rink going in. I think it will work. What do yo think?
I went by the adjacent Convention Center and caught a couple of reflections.
I love reflections.
I went looking for a geocache that has eluded me. I found it! Do you see it? Want a clue? I’ll give it to you anyway, it is right in the center about a quarter of the down the middle of the pic.
On the way back to the office I took another shot of the BOK Center.
Back to work, helping solve America’s energy problems.
Signs, Signs- Deep Downtown Tulsa
I get off work at 6 pm so it is pretty much dark when I get off work these days. So I’ve been seeking out some neon signs on the way home.
I really like the Atlas Life Building’s Sign. I just wish they could light up the globe that Atlas is straining to hold up.
If you back up a little bit on Boston Avenue it makes Tulsa look like a regular city. Tulsa already has their snowflake Christmas lights up.
Even the building next to my parking space looks metropolitan.
Speaking of globes the Tulsa World’s sign lights up the globe and the globe even rotates.
For those who are overwhelmed by the prospect of holding up the world they can go drown their troubles at Orphas. Tulsa highest class dive bar.
Tulsa’s Veteran’s Day Parade
Tulsa had their annual Veterans Day Parade on Monday. It is a big deal in Tulsa.
The Police motorcycles opened things up along with a color guard. I wear a hat almost always when I’m outside but not at this parade. I’m old school, when the flag comes by you take your lid off, unless you are in uniform of course. Khaki slacks and golf shirt is a uniform of sorts but not the right kind.
There were lots of marching bands.
There were some old military vehicles.
And some brand spanking new ones.
There were some very mature soldiers. This gentleman has been in every Veterans Parade I’ve seen.
And the Navy showed up. Navy, Tulsa, just go with it okay?
And some of our future leaders showed up. Big smiles, walking proud. Kudos to whoever got them in the parade.
And some guys with kilts. Liz Cravens, my blog friend from Scotland said “ooooh they’re a bit gaudy!!!” and “Jeez louise I’ve seen more subdued pub carpets!!”
And lots and lots of flags.
Kudos to all the participants and to whoever organizes the parade. They do a great job ever year.
Skywatch Friday – Daylight Savings Time
Its that time of year, I fell forward on Saturday night so now I’m so lazy I don’t even have to get up out of my chair to take a SWF pic. The downside is that I had two more hours to work when it is pitch dark.
Tulsa Route 66 Neon Signs
Who doesn’t love neon signs? What used to seem cheap and tacky is now cool.
I’ve loved the Meadow Gold sign here in Tulsa since it was put back up a few years ago. I didn’t realize until last night that I had never seen it lit up at night. I can’t believe it. I’ve been thinking of a good reason to not be on daylight savings time during the Winter all my life and now I finally found one. Do you happen to have another?
This is what it looks like during the day, nice but not the same.
Right down the road is El Rancho Grande. I’ve never eaten there but if the food is a good as the sign them I’m missing out.
What a sign! I love that long looping lasso that also forms the “El” part of the name. And the Arrow, just in case you are wondering where the restaurant is the arrow is telling you that it is right next to the sign. I wonder how the margaritas are?
And a bonus, right where I parked my car while taking pictures of the restaurant sign, an out of luck edgy business using corrugated metal in their storefront. Not as cool as neon, but I love the neon reflections.
Have you seen any good signs lately?
Our World – D Day Outing at Oxley Nature Center
Sunday afternoon in Tulsa was glorious, warm, sunny, dry. A great day for getting some vitamin D. Getting outside if you know what I mean. SuperPizzaBoy and I loaded up his three wheel Triton and off we went to Mary K. Oxley Nature Center on the north side of Tulsa.
The center has some old highways long blocked off from traffic that are perfect for SPB’s three wheel Triton. He doesn’t like walking like his Dad does so it is a good compromise.
He can ride for miles.
We saw brilliant Fall foliage.
And some shimmering lakes.
Oxley has lots and lots of side trails. In wetter years the walkways come in pretty handy.
We found a couple of geocaches. I’ve found almost all of them at Oxley.
We both got a few hours of exercise and probably overloaded on Vitamin D.
There was a lot to be had. And the Cowboys didn’t play until Sunday night anyway.
2012 Tulsa Run 15K
Here I be, all bundled up to run the 35th Tulsa Run 15K road race here in Tulsa. We’ve had a wonderful October but it decided to get all cold and windy for the race. Part of God’s wrath over Obama’s getting elected I think. I’m not sure though. Sweetie took the picture with my “good” camera. Didn’t she do a good job, especially considering what she had to work with?
Speaking of Sweetie here she is. She and SuperPizzaBoy participated in the Fun Run part of the Race. Smart duo, the Fun Run is only 2K.
And here is SuperPizzaBoy. Just in case you are wondering he is not both bigger than I am and heavier. But I can still take him. At least I hope that he still thinks I can take him.
And here is a group picture of all the kids, staff, and parents from Town and Country School here in Tulsa who participated in the Fun Run. Nice to see kids outside away from their video games. Oh well, I’m digressing.
The jumble of people waiting for the race to start. Lots of costumes by the various runners. I took a recyclable camera they seem to work better for running. I brought along my ipod but it was too cold to use as a camera.
The gun started and we inched toward the start line. I start way in the back to avoid being trampled. Plus psychologically I love passing people from the start of the race to the end.
There were several bands along the route. I always appreciate them. They are out there early in the morning in the frigid cold jamming for free.
I found several Minnie Mice running in formation. Don’t you think they have very nice shapely tails?
Here they are picking up the pace. Sometimes I’m embarrassed how slow I run. You can imagine that if I’m embarrassed how the people I pass feel. Being passed by Yogi in a race is a good reason to drop running.
Hey, here come the cops. with the lead pack right behind them.
Here is the lead pack, six guys all bunched up together. Between me and these six guys we had first place wrapped up. I’m into teamwork like that. Sorry I chopped their heads off, didn’t mean to. You can see though that it is time for another road maintenance bond issue here in Tulsa. I’d vote for it.
I was going to post this picture and say that was the group right behind me. But if you found out the truth your confidence in me would be shattered. Couldn’t have that. I’d have to leave the gas industry and go into politics for a living.
Another band, rock on dudes!
Two women, they were sharing socks. How come guys never do stuff like that. I mean guys in America’s heartland. We know the guys on the coasts are liable to do anything girls do. Hey don’t get mad at me. I don’t make the news, I just report it.
Getting toward the end. The last mile or so was uphill and I was about to die (don’t worry I didn’t). Was I ever bushed. This was my nineteenth consecutive Tulsa Run. I just love it. It is a like a 15 kilometer meditation. I love the wind and sun on my face and the sound of my fellow runners. It seems like it is over in about five minutes.
I went through the snack line and grabbed my two Snickers bars and gave one back when I got scolded that one per person. So I went back to the front of the line and got me another one. (Just proves that yes guys are still pretty childish at 57 years of age, in case you were wondering when we grow up, we don’t, we are guys.) I had one beer and then went back to my car and went home. Too danged cold to hang around taking pics.
Who won? Julius Kogo of Kenya. Yet another year when me and a Kenyan had the top spot.
Wordless Wednesday – Pre-Gentrification Downtown Tulsa
Mandarin Orange Monday – Pumpkin Patch
I had my day off Friday so among other things we loaded up and headed off to Carmichael’s Pumpkin Patch in Bixby, a suburb of Tulsa.
SuperPizzaBoy and Sweetie, hanging with a scarecrow.
The place was crawling with pumpkins and with munchkins.
I love Fall the sun is lower, the shadows are cooler, the colors are wonderful.
SPB’s favorite is the Hay House. The kids go in one end and out the other, over and over and over. He’s a freshman in high school but he made several trips. Talk about hay fever afterward.
There is so much to see and so much to do at a good pumpkin patch. I can’t believe it is mostly free. I mean the pumpkins are not but what a picture taker’s paradise. (Note, I’m not a photographer, you say “yeah, no kidding Yogi”, I’m a picture take. I take pictures, photographers capture images.)
And critters, Carmichael’s has critters.
Don’t you just love goats.
I love taking pictures of others capturing images. Pumpkin patches are happy places. It always seems like everybody is in a good mood and the kids don’t get overexcited. Even the staff seems to have lots of patience.
SPB found his. Sweetie insists on stems for at least one. Why? Because she knows best that is why. Any other questions?
Something about pumpkins, and pictures of pumpkins, is cool!!
Here they are on the front porch. Ready for some smart aleck to smash!
Have you been to a pumpkin patch this year?