Lucky Me! Anniversary Time

(Yep, big on the Lucky Me)

Lucky me, twenty four years ago this beautiful woman became my wife.

(We dropped off the kid at Nana’s (the World’s greatest MIL (Can I really next parentheses, who is stopping me)) and had lunch.)

She and I have been through a bunch of ups and downs of all types and she has stood by me the whole time.

(One of the theaters in town has switched over to huge recliners. I’m putting together a movie bag for when we go next time. Jammies, Snuggie, Pillow, I’m going for it.)

We have moved a few times and had a child together and we have lost parents and went through other things, and she has never wavered. We have also shared a lot of great times and had lots of fun.

(I know this looks strange but we were seated in a booth and it is hard to to lean across for a good shot in a booth so we took pictures of each other. We love to dress up and play grownups.)

She is my best friend and my confididante and most trusted advisor and my one person accountability group.

(The rooftop bar of the Mayo Hotel. Very cool place, very low light.)

I can’t imagine life without her.

(My Sister Ellen informs me via Facebook that the bikes are bigger than the car. I think she is right.)

So we celebrated over several days, we ate, we watched movies, we went out to dinner at a really nice dressup place and then we went out for a grownup dinner.

(There I am jutting my chin out to minimize my double chins.What really worked best is tightening my chin strap up.)

We always go out for an Anniversary bike ride. Sometimes we do as many miles as we have been married. This time we only got 13.

(Introducing YogiCam!! Here I am about to pass somebody.)

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

Back to School and Off Work

I’m on a 9-80 schedule at my office. That means that I work 80 hours every two weeks over 9 days and get every other Friday off. I love the schedule. It gives me an extra day off every two weeks, all year long. During the summer when SuperPizzaBoy is not in school it gives us an extra day together. It is really nice though during the school year. Then I get my day off with Sweetie. I mean I love SPB but I like spending time with just me and Sweetie also.

So Friday was my first 9-80 day since school started. Sweetie and I didn’t do much. We helped set up the lower school book fair. SPB is in the upper school but hey, we are helpful folks. Actually Sweetie is the helpful one and I was just tagging along.

Then we went to see Woody Allen’s new movie Blue Jasmine. Oh, it is a great movie but also very raw and heavy. But hey, the theater is in the midst of a renovation and they are installing these deluxe recliners in the auditoriums. I’m taking my snuggie next time! Do you have these where you live? I much recommend them.

Then we went to lunch at Kosmos on Peoria in Brookside.

We picked up SPB from school and brought him home. Sweetie is in making dinner and of course I’m in the yard playing with my Ipod Touch Hipstamatic App. It has a multi-exposure setting so I did the old hand in the sky covering the sun trick and then took a picture of our crepe myrtle blossoms.

And then a straight double exposure of the same thing at a slightly different angle. Kind of gives it a dreamy look is what I say. You’re no help in getting dinner ready is what Sweetie says.

Then we packed up some chairs and the kid (along with his DS of course)(if you don’t know what a DS is, count yourself as being very lucky, take my word for it!) and headed downtown to see the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra play at Guthrie Green. They played a variety of music from waltzes, to broadway tunes, to movie music. It was great. At the end they played some patriotic music and the there were fireworks!! (We love fireworks.)

And even better it was against the Tulsa skyline.

I’m so glad I figured out how to use the fireworks mode on my camera.

I do feel bad though because I broke my rule against reading the manual. Manuals are for Democrats don’t you think, not hard working Republicans. (Mainly because most Republicans can’t read) (But they do have strong opinions) (I’m just joking folks. I heard rumors of a Republican in Massachusetts who can read. I mean if you choose to believe that there is a Republican in Massachusetts then I guess that it is not hard to make the leap that he or she can read.)

After the concert and fireworks we went to Braums for a little ice cream.

And that is that!!

What did you do today?

Skywatch Friday – Kansas Cloudscape

Heading into clouds on a recent trip to Kansas. The storm I was anticipating never materialized.

Skywatch Friday

Pondering the Mysteries of Labor Day on Turkey Mountain

I really can’t figure out Labor Day. We celebrate labor by taking the day off? What is up with that? I can’t figure it out, you know Memorial Day we fly flags, July 4th is Fireworks, Halloween is pumpkins. What is Labor Day and why do we celebrate it. I don’t know? We don’t really celebrate those who labor do we? No we just give them more work. Celebrating labor is slightly socialistic. What we really like is wealth. Wealth means no labor, at least not for them that has it. Lets have a national wealth day. I’d rather be rich than work. What about you? Oh well, nothing to get the mind on straight like going to Tulsa’s urban wilderness, Turkey Mountain.

Here I be!! I don’t take too many “selfies” as such pics are called on Instagram. I just wanted to show how happy I was to be there. Plus I got a rare haircut. I mean I paid 22 bucks for it. That comes out to be about 50 cents per each hair cut. That is is kind of high in my opinion. I mean cutting 44 hairs should cost less than 22 bucks I think. I think 10 cents a hair is more like it. What do you think? Another reason I’m smiling is cuz of this.

I smoked some chicken leq quarters the day before and after I get through running and getting cleaned up we are going over to Nana’s (the world’s greatest MIL) to eat the chicken along with a whole lot of other stuff.

There is not a whole lot to take pics of during the heat of the day. The deer and other critters are way off deep in the woods resting ( or that special place that waiters and waitresses go when you need your check). So I thought I’d take pics of the flowers I saw. There isn’t much color on Turkey Mountain this time of year.

You know what kind of flowers these are. Well some are yellow and some are purple. That is the sum of my knowledge about wildflowers.

It is hot, but only in the 90’s and the humidity is lower. Fall is coming. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Warm days, cool nights, football. Unfortunately I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan so I football isn’t as enjoyable as it used to be.

There were also a bunch of spider webs out in the woods shaped like funnels. I would think that it would take some very energetic and creative spiders to create these. They are kind of like the roach motels of spiderwebs. My friend mister Google tells me that these are funnel-web spiders. The American kind is not really a bother to people. The Australlian variety is deadly. I wonder why that is, maybe it has something to do with spending their whole life upside down. I can’t think of anything else. Can you?

The thing about Turkey Mountain is that the trails are crowded with people the for about a half mile then it thins out rapidly especially to the northwest end of the mountain. I like to run out there to the Westside Y because it feels like a long ways.

I ran clear to the north side of the wilderness area to the Westside YMCA. They operate a day camp during the summer and give lots of kids a taste of the woods. This pond almost dried up over the winter but we’ve had some rain in the Tulsa area so now the kids have some water to canoe on. Or at least they would if there was still camps but the season is over.

I ran on back and came upon a bulletin board with maps and warnings and such. The River Parks authority has put several of these numbered stations across the mountain. The idea is that if you have a problem and can make it to the station then you can call 911 and tell the dispatcher what number you are at then they know where to send help. I think it is a good idea. There is water at the main parking lot but nowhere else. If you go up on the mountain take lots of water and if you are taking a dog take water for them also.

Nearby is what I call Wagon Wheel Lake (All the ponds on Turkey Mountain are called lakes for some reason, so I get to call the pond a lake also.) We have a had a wet year, usually the ponds are dry and the vegetation dried out by this time of year.

I finished up my run and took another selfie of me. Notice how I got my jaw forward to cut down the number of double chins? I tried that trick but it sure makes me look stern.

I ran the pic through the grunge filter on snapseed. I love this result. Sure makes me look grungy. I smelled pretty grungy too so I went home and cleaned up and we headed off to Nana’s.

Oh yes, after a pre-dinner Tanqueray and tonic we had the chicken, and purple hull peas, sliced tomatoes, marinated cucumbers, Sweeties home made cole slaw, and on and on. I was too busy eating it to take a picture of everthing.

So Labor Day turned out okay. I guess that I’ll stick with Labor Day and not agitate for a Wealth Day Holiday. I’ve been thinking about it and if you are wealthy then every day is a holiday. That’s what I think anyway.

Ruby Tuesday – Das Muhle die klein rot Henne

On a recent trip to South Dakota I took the time to find geocaches in four new states, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the above in Iowa on dirt road miles from nowhere. I guess you can already tell that my wife was not with me on this adventure.

Ruby Tuesday 2

Song-ography – Bare Naked Ladies Edition – “If I Had A Million Dollars”

Well, this is a good way to increase my Google search rating. Every perv in the world is going to be hitting on this post but I don’t have what they are looking for. The Barenaked Ladies are a Canadian Band and they have some really good offbeat ironic songs, many of them are hilarious. This week Song-ography’s prompt is the Barenaked Ladies “If I Had a Million Dollars.” Song-ography is fun meme that comes out on Sundays hosted by Kath at You’ll Shoot Your Eyes Out where you try to match up photographs with songs. It is a lot of fun!

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you a house
I would buy you a house

(Sorry Sweetie, a million dollars just doesn’t go as far as it used to. You have to admit though the view is great.)

And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Id buy you furniture for your house
Maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman

(Or how about a good deal on a wood stove. You know using wood warms you twice.)

And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you a K-Car
A nice reliant automobile
And if I had a million dollars, Id buy your love

(I know it doesn’t look that great Sweetie but it runs great and has good rubber.)

If I had a million dollars
Id build a tree-fort in our yard
If I had a million dollars you could help
It wouldnt be that hard

(I’d like to build you a tree fort but the tree is not cooperating.)

If I had a million dollars
Maybe we could put a little tiny fridge
In there somewhere
We could just go up there and hang out

Like open the fridge and stuff
And thered all be foods laid out for us
Like little pre-wrapped sausages and things

(I promise, once I get the oven working, I’ll start on the fridge. I mean right after I write a post about fixing the oven.)

They have pre-wrapped sausages
But they dont have pre-wrapped bacon
Well, can you blame them?
Yeah

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you a fur a coat
But not a real fur coat, thats cruel

(Well, the bare chested PETA girls that came to town last year don’t really like fur coats, or soooo they sayyyyyy!) (This photo is for the pervs that showed up looking for one thing and decided to stay for a while. You guys can go now.)

And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you an exotic pet
Yep, like a llama or an emu

(How about a centipede, we already have too many big critters in the house.)

And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you John Merricks remains
All them crazy elephant bones
And if I had a million dollars Id buy your love

If I had a million dollars
We wouldnt have to walk to the store
If I had a million dollars
Wed take a Limousine cause it costs more

(Well you know it is colorful. Problem is that the color, symbol, and slogan are probable causes for everything from conspiracy to jaywalking on up.)

If I had a million dollars
We wouldnt have to eat Kraft dinner
But we would eat Kraft dinner

(Or a foot long coney, the PETA girls wouldn’t want that either, or sooo theyyyy sayyy!!! Remaining pervs can leave now. Please!!)

Of course we would, wed just eat more
And buy really expensive ketchups with it
Thats right, all the fanciest Dijon ketchups

(That is as fancy as it gets around here.)

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you a green dress
But not a real green dress, thats cruel

(I mean really, who wears green dresses? Green is not even a color, its a mixture of colors.)

And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you some art
A Picasso or a Garfunkel

(How do you like it Sweetie! Isn’t it grand! We’ll put it by the television, yes in our house. Uh uh, yes the living room. What do you mean return it? It’s a work of art! A million bucks doesn’t get you a Picasso anymore Sweetie!)

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, Id buy you a monkey
Havent you always wanted a monkey?
If I had a million dollars Id buy your love

(Uh, well yeah, he might could fix the oven faster than I am, but I bet you that he doesn’t have a blog. What do you mean that that is a big plus?)

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Id be rich

(Hey, I am rich without the million dollars)

Songwriters: Ed Robertson, Steven Page

Song-ography

Skywatch Friday – South Dakota Sunrise

Early morning sunrise on my drive out of Flandreau, South Dakota. I had already said my goodbyes to the family the night before and I was off on my 670 mile drive back to Tulsa via South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. I caught this sight in my rear view mirror so I had to stop and take a picture on the rise out of the Big Sioux River Valley.

Skywatch Friday

Water Tower Wednesday – Hot, Warm, Cold

On the main road in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Our World – Contrasts inside the Museum at Woolaroc – Part Deaux

Last week I posted about SuperPizzaBoy and I driving to Woolaroc as part of a road trip and it was kind of crowded because of the Phillips Petroleum Employee picnic. That post was focused mainly on the critters of Woolaroc. Woolaroc is the former ranch, country home, and private museum of oilman Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company.

This week’s emphasis is on the museum and other inside displays at Woolaroc.That is the the thing about Woolaroc, it has a great museum planted in the middle of what is essientially a working bison and longhorn cattle ranch out in the middle of nowhere. Don’t count on too many bars when you are there.

I’ve been to Woolaroc many times and I still find new stuff at the museum. It takes several trips for me before I figure out what a museum is all about. What struck me this trip was the contrasts I saw. Especially that of Native Americans.

There is the Native American as great and feared warriors.

And as a defeated people longing for the wonderful past.

There is the Native American as the friendly, spiritual guide to children.

And as savage warriors kicking some major Custer butt at Little Bighorn.

As participants in wild pagan dances.

And performing fine arts in bucolic settings.

These are all romantic views and I think the truth is lost somewhere in there. I didn’t think about it at the time but I don’t recall too many, if any, art pieces by Native Americans on display at the museum. I can tell you that Native American culture including is alive and all about the now.

The other contrast I noticed were in the Pioneer Woman statues. Back in 1927, E.W. Marland a wealthy oilman commissioned twelve sculptors to come up with representations of a Pioneer Woman. The twelve entries were displayed all around the USA. I didn’t take pictures of all of them but the winner was something like this one. A schoolmarmish tough woman. And, I’m sure those pioneer women way back when were tough. You know, no facebook, no pedicure places, or mothers day out or any of that other stuff.

Below gets my vote evvery time. Don’t ask me why.

The other thing about visiting museums often is that after a while you start seeing things you never noticed before. For example three things that will put me to sleep real fast in western museums are displays about guns, barbed wire, and spurs. I mean really who cares? Well I noticed the spurs this time. For example the following. Okay stay awake with me okay. I know it is a real snoozer.

The below was called a “Gal Leg” Spur. I didn’t get it right at first.

I had passed by that display 20 times over the years and never noticed it. So now, you and I both know about Gal Leg Spurs. There are dozens of varieties.

That’s all for now folks.

Our World Tuesday

Inspired Sunday – Kansas City LDS Temple

A couple weeks ago while driving through Kansas City on my way from Tulsa to South Dakota I saw a very striking building next to the freeway. I took the next exit and made my way to it.

Turns out that the building was a brand spanking new Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Temple. Ground had been broken in 2010 and it was dedicated in May 2012.

The thing about the LDS Temples is that once they are dedicated they are not open to the public at all. Beforehand though they offer tours to the general public. I toured the Oklahoma City Temple in 2000 before it was dedicated. The exterior was not as spectactular as this one in Kansas City but I was struck by the exquisiteness and craftsmanship of interior in both the building and the furnishings. Here is a link to a chuch site that explains the purpose of temples among other information.

Here is another site that has a lot of information about the this temple in particular and temples in general. Turns out that the LDS Church dedicated two other sites in Missouri back in the 1830’s before the church and is members were driven out of the state so the temples never got built. So the dedication of this temple was especially meaningful to members of the church.

Inspired Sunday

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