Tag Archives: Birthday

To Space and then Back to Earth

Earlier this week I headed out to the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow to find a specialized geocache. It was a space based Adventure Lab Cache. No container to find, just information you need to look up. It was at the Voyage Solar System Walkway. A collection of displays set up along a street showing the relative sizes and distances of the planets to the sun.

Here is the sun, looks like an overgrown basketball.

Just a few feet away is Earth. Barely bigger than a pin prick and its even smaller moon.

And 2000 feet down the street, all by itself, is Pluto. Stripped of planet status recently but still proud.

And I got a virtual postcard proving that I found it. If only virtual anything proves anything. The installation starts at an elementary school which I think is great.

And I went hiking recently on Turkey Mountain. This flyover are still scary to me. They are not for hikers, they are for bicyclists. They really do fly over them. I think all that steel would hurt if you fell off your bike.

My sister and her husband came to town. We had a fun time. One day we went Woolaroc, wildlife preserve and art museum started by Oklahoma oilman Frank Phillips who started Phillips 66 Petroleum way back when. We saw some bison and other critters. My sister is a former Park Ranger at Yellowstone so it is kind of hard to impress her.

The liked the art a lot. Lots of western artists works are hanging at Woolaroc.

I love this stained glass window.

We went to the nearby town of Bartlesville to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price Tower. Built for a pipeline construction company, H.C. Price who did a lot of work for Phillips 66.

BIL Irv got his photo with a big 66.

Sister Ellen did as well.

I did several years ago when I turned 66 years old.

And a few years before that I got my brother Bob’s photo on his 66th birthday.

Speaking of birthdays, I had one early this month. You can tell I am getting kind of old. I just started my 70th year.

As a treat Heather and Logan took me to see the the Van Gogh Immersion exhibit here in Tulsa. It was very cool.

And I got a cornhole game. Stop by if you are in town we’ll have some beverages and play a few games.

And I end with yet another Lego animal from the Tulsa Botanic Garden.

I am linking with Skywatch Friday and My Corner of the World. Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Heather

It’s Heather’s Birthday Today!!

She’s the one that keeps things going in our house.

She’s always ready to go something, riding bikes.

Or hikes

Or sitting down, chatting over a brew

Or in the kitchen, making sure everybody is taken care of.

Happy Birthday Heather, I love you!!

Mariachi Birthday

My mother-in-law had a birthday recently. She went on a trip years ago to Mexico and fell in love with Mariachi Music and has said she wants such a band at her funeral. Her housekeeper, who is from Mexico, said that my MIL should have a Mariachi band while alive so the housekeeper arranged a surprise visit by a band she knew recently.

A few friends and family were visiting and then the doorbell rang and in came the band singing.

They sang for an hour. It was marvelous. My MIL was very happy. The group has been together for years and they only do private events all over northeast Oklahoma.

What a great birthday gift!! None of us there will ever forget it.

I’m linking with My Corner of the World

Somebody Had a Birthday

I had a birthday recently. I turned 67. Somehow I still don’t feel old. I feel bad though, but too bad. When I got out of college and went to work in the oilfields I saw all these really old elderly guys and gals in the mid-30’s thinking boy they are burnt out. Now people that age seem like little puppies. All full of vim and vigor.

I guess I’ll have to end my “Being 66 on Route 66” schtick that I have been playing this past year. I don’t even know if there is Route 67. I like prime numbers and 67 is a dandy prime number.

Heather and Logan made the day great for me. I had banners.

And balloons.

And some cool sandals with a Jerry Garcia design on them. This my seventh pair of the same type sandals. Only one other has a Jerry Garcia design though. Just call me the Ferdinand Marcos of Oklahoma.

They took me to breakfast at a chic upscale place. The stuff on the plate is avocado toast. Most places that I have that I am still hungry. Not this place. We went to a movie afterward.

We also went to the Tulsa Botanic Garden and saw thousands of tulips.

Logan went to work and Heather took me to dinner.

Next day, not an official birthday event, I got a pedicure thanks to the generosity of Nana, the world’s greatest mother-in-law.

So hey, I had a great day. I recommend Happy Birthdays to everyone.

I’m a blessed man.

Somebody’s Having a Birthday

This sign got added to the yard last night.

It’s for this guy, who is now a college man.

But we remember him napping with Pooh Bear on the beach.

And riding Ranger the stick horse all over the house.

He’s a great son who we are proud of.

And here he is with his Grandmother, Nana.

And hanging out in the flower gardens with his mom.

He loves hanging out with his Mom in quiet times.

And more exciting times.

Happy Birthday Logan, we are proud of you and love you very much.

An addendum,

The Birthday Boy

I think he loved the yard sign. Heather hired an outfit to do it. It’s like a super-duper birthday card.

Used the drone to get a little altitude plus it is its own tripod.

A little bit higher angle. Tried to use the tripod with my Nikon but it would have to be in the middle of the street.

We loved the sign and missed it when the people came and pulled it up.

We had a birthday dinner at a nice restaurant.

And lots and lots of candles.

A good time was had by all!

Birthday Weekend!!

Son Logan is having a birthday this weekend. For some reason either he is growing or his mother and grandmother are both shrinking.

He is a patient kid, he puts up with all my hiking, geocaching, and other things I like to do.

He’s a scholar, presently at a community college and may be going to a four year university soon, and staying in the dorm. And his mother and I will be empty nesters, except for our five other kids (dogs and cats.)

And he is always ready for a good stretch!!

And he is patient with his dad sticking a camera in his face. I have almost 5800 photos of him in my archives.

And lucky for him, he takes after his mom. I think he is a good looking kid.

Especially when he is next time.

He loves chilling in his grandmother’s poo.

And he is a big reader. He goes everywhere with a book.

He and his mom love parasailing together.

And he loves video games.

Happy Birthday Logan!! We love you.

Logan’s Graduation

Well the rapidly rushing river headed towards Niagra Falls of Logan’s senior year finally came to the end and I guess we all survived. Wow, a lot happened this year, and wow, it all accelerated and got very fast at the end and then the end came and I guess we were all right.

It was all very emotional for me as my little baby boy that we brought home from the hospital 18 years ago is now a big strapping young man.

He is still our baby boy though except he is going to register to vote next week.

We were fortunate to have my Sister Ellen (far right) her dashing husband Irv (far left), and my brother Bob (betwsen Logan and Ellen) travel a long distance to share the event with us.

The High School principal, Dr. Burrows, a very nice man came by and congratulated Logan. He told Heather a few weeks ago that they took a risk admitting Logan and he was very glad that he did. We are glad that he they gave Logan a chance also.

And here is me. No we didn’t plan on being so color coordinated.

And one of Logan’s classmates, Matt. Matt went out of his way to make Logan feel welcome when he first attended.

And this is Logan’s Kindergarten teacher from a long time ago. She had her hands full with an oversize class and Logan took a lot of attention but she hung with him. She was the first of a series of teachers from several schools who had a heart of kids and went the extra mile to give kids like Logan the attention he needed.

And this is the Kindergarten teacher’s daughter who went to school with Logan way back when and also graduated from the same school with Logan. She spent a lot of time helping Logan back then and they reconnected when Logan enrolled at the new school.

Another look at Irv and Ellen. They make a very handsome couple don’t they. They are very nice. Our dogs fell in love with them though and have been down in the dumps since Irv and Ellen left to go back to Colorado.

Afterwards Nana hosted a party for Logan at her house the next day. Many of Heather’s relatives attended the party as wells as Ellen and Irvin.

The party was a combined graduation and birthday party and had a drama theme since Logan’s first love is acting and performing. Notice the cake with the marquee.

And the little chalk board like they use for movies. Or used to use anyway.

Several of Logan’s friends showed up and all had a good time. This is where I admit that I am a bad son in law and did not get a picture of Logan and his grandmother together. Don’t you worry though because I will get a picture and add it to this post. One nice thing about blogging is that you can rewrite history any time you want!

And then we sang Happy Birthday!!

I did get a picture of the boy and his mom. They have a special bond that brings tears to eyes when I think about it.

So anyways, maybe I’ll be a better blog friend now. We have been busy lately!!

It’s That Day Again

Somebody is having a birthday! Notice the Zumba cake that her mother got Heather. Also notice the Birthday Angel making another appearance. Time was Heather would groan when it was brought out, not any longer.