Category Archives: Oklahoma culture

Here’s What Touched My Heart

https://oregonsurgicalwellness.com/why-wellness/

Order Tramadol Online

http://www.sierrarealestate.net/7-retro-trends-making-a-comeback/ I recall writing this post about the Graduate College ceremonies two years ago. This Friday, I’ll get to walk through the same ceremony as a doctoral candidate…to celebrate completing the last of my educational requirements. I’m thrilled to think that, soon enough, I’ll have my college diploma in hand. I’m still working on my dissertation, but am preparing to defend and complete that process no later than mid-July of this summer. For those who may have lost their originals, you can order diploma and transcripts online for replacement purposes.

https://nerdexp.com/smartas/ I was thinking about this post because it’s interesting to change perspectives – being a graduate, being faculty, then being a graduate again.  I’m looking forward to Friday…to sitting with my doctoral advisor, to smiling as I get hooded, and to being with my family.  I’m a sucker for academic regalia, so am exited to have three velvet stripes on the sleeves of my robe this time, and a velvet tam on my head.  But mostly, I’m looking forward to being finished: with enrolling, with paying tuition (about 35K and counting…), and with having more hoops through which to jump.  I’ll be glad the hoop jumping is complete.

Order Soma 350Mg Online I know there will always be hoops in life – job hoops, tax hoops, qualifying hoops of one sort or another.  But, to know the educational hoops are about the end is, to me, one of the most exhilarating feelings I’ve ever experienced.  To me, that’s what Friday will mean. ~ Peace, RDK

Order Prednisone For Sale ***

https://allmyrecipe.com/terms-and-conditions/ Last night I reported to Gallagher Iba Arena just before 6:00 p.m.  My assignment?  To assist master’s candidates with their academic regalia.  I had my instructions: Medallions first, cords second, hoods, then caps.  Also, tassels on the LEFT.

Buy Clonazepam Online Overnight In December of 2001 I was being assisted with this process, rather than being the one who assists.  My perspective was so different this time.  As I jockeyed with those guarding the door who wanted to see my credentials, asked where I was to report and then finally seemed to be convinced I had a reason to be there I began wondering if I would be of any use to the students.  After all, they were getting their Master’s Degrees, right?

Buy Soma Online That question was put quickly to bed once I had walked down the hallway and into one of the practice gyms.  All around the room students were jostling with their regalia.  “What do I do with this little loopy-thingy?”  “Is this on right?”  “Can you help me with the zipper on my gown? It’s stuck.”  “Do you have any bobby pins?” “Hey, someone brought safety pins, cool!”  The comments circled around the room and repeated themselves over and over as the room filled almost to capacity.  Where were all these Master’s candidates coming from?  Did we have three, four or even six times this many on our campus?  I was genuinely surprised at the numbers.  I would guess there were at least 400 or more milling around in their friendship groups.  I noticed between eight and ten older, “returning” students (read: those my age or older…some with a full head of gray hair) standing alone.  The eight or ten appeared, by and large, peaceful and happy.  I think they were just standing in the midst of the hubbub taking in all they could.

Order Xanax No Prescription The “traditional” students (read: those between 24 and 28 years old) were standing around in groups of two, three, eight or even more.  They were rapidly speaking to each other and helping one another with their hair, regalia, holding phones, taking photos, etc.  One group of tall young men in the corner broke out in the “Oh-lay-oh-lay-oh-lay-oh-LAAAYYY (Ole, Ole…)” song.  They were jumping up and down to the beat of the song, and sang it three or four times through. Continue reading Here’s What Touched My Heart

How Do You Say That?

Buy Soma 350 Mg Online

go site In honor of tonight’s NCAA Men’s basketball final between Louisville and Michigan, don’t you think it’s about time to revisit Southwestern Oklahoma – home to some of the best small school basketball teams – and make sure we know how to pronounce those town names?  Just in case you’re wondering how to pronounce the capital of Kentucky, it is pronounced, “FRANK-fort”.

enter Red Dirt Kelly gave birth to the Red Dirt Chronicles just a few short years ago. Since that time she has posted Red Dirt trivia questions on Facebook about all things related to Oklahoma. My favorite trivia questions are the ones that focus on Oklahoma places. When it comes to Oklahoma place names, the trivia can include more than just location, it might even pull out the old “how do you pronounce . . .” routine. As Jeff Foxworthy might say: “You might be from Oklahoma if you know how to say ‘Gotebo’, ‘Hobart’, ‘Eufaula’, Oologah, or Skiatook.”

follow site Southwestern Oklahoma has its fair share of names that make you either grin or raise an eyebrow before attempting to say them. Go pack a snack now, and a tall glass of sweet iced tea, and we’ll take us a little road trip around Southwestern Oklahoma and discover some of these places. Leave your GPS devices at home for this trip – just pick up a copy of the free map of Oklahoma that the tourism department provides. It’ll save you a hundred bucks or so, and give you a better idea of where you are going.

go site Driving along US 62, halfway between Altus and Lawton, there is that sign that says “Gotebo –>”. Gotebo is one of those place names that exposes the non-Oklahoma roots of weather reporters. Very few know that it sounds just the way it is spelled, “go-tee-bo” with all long vowels. Gotebo is located in Kiowa County, at the junction of State Highways 9 and 54. It was founded around 1901 and has a current population of 226.

get link Northwest of Gotebo is Retrop. Some may wonder where this strange name came from, but it is quite simple, really. Spell it backwards and you have the surname of the first family to settle in Retrop. When the town applied for a post office, they discovered there was a town in Indian Territory named “Porter”. When word came back to Retrop about Porter, the forefathers said, “Let’s just spell it backwards.” Retrop is located on the Washita/Beckham county line, along State Highway 6, not too far down the road from Sentinel.

https://leoniaarts.org/events/ Up the road a ways from Retrop are two towns located a few miles apart on either side of State Highway 54, and nearly always paired together on the highway signs. Corn and Colony are their names. I’m not sure if they grow corn in Corn, or if any colonists remain in Colony, but I do know that one has family ties to John Denver. Continue reading How Do You Say That?

Flowers in the Attic

enter

https://www.adaptx.ca/careers/ I recall being obsessed with the V.C. Andrews “Flowers in the Attic” book series as a student in junior high and high school.

go to link I thought about that book series as I stared at a 6 cent FDR stamp postmarked 1968.  I’ve been cleaning my own attic on and off for the past month.  As I was going through a box of childhood keepsakes, I came across a postcard sent to me by my Aunt Virginia.

https://oregonsurgicalwellness.com/lymphedema-prevention/ Aunt Virginia loves flowers, her back yard is full of them.  When I visit her, I usually end up with a few cuttings or bulbs.  From her flower beds to mine, she shares her blooms, and they keep giving color to my yard year after year.

The back of the postcard was yellowed, and her message had been written in pencil.  The faded handwriting was a stark contrast to the Oklahoma travel photos on the front.  A 1960s black and white reel-to-reel news voice popped into my head as I read the description of the photos:

The front of this card shows only a few of the natural and man-made attractions which make Oklahoma a vacation adventureland. (Compliments of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.  Not to be sold.)

As I read through her message, I realized she had written a poem and included me, her daughter (my cousin Julie) and my brother in the lines:

Dear Kelly,

I raised my head and looked at the World

And there was Kelly, a nice little girl

We played and ate ice cream and had lots of fun

Although cowgirl Julie was wearing a gun,

You got out the dolls and the dishes for a tea,

While Julie and little Quentin were running free,

Be a sweet little girl and always act nice

And the next time I see you I’ll kiss you twice.

Aunt Virginia

I re-read the poem a couple of times and thought, “I have my own flowers in the attic.  They’re from Aunt Virginia, given to me when I was five.  And now that I’ve found them, they’ll keep blooming – just like the perennials from her in my flower beds – adding color to my soul, year after year.”

20130407_215330

Oklahoma is Artsy & Writsy – Read This to Hear Why!

Screen Shot 2013-02-05 at 8.46.22 PM We’ve been working on an event, and here’s the low-down, the info, the 4-1-1…capeesh?

see 2nd Friday Art Walk Offers Unique Imaginary Family Project and live music from John Calvin.

Order Klonopin Online START AT STASH on Friday, February 8th for Downtown Norman’s 2nd Friday Art Walk from 6-10 p.m. Among the features this month will be the book release of “The Imaginary Family Project (IFP),” a compendium of 52 short stories by 51 different authors written weekly over the period of one year. As a bonus, every one who attends will be given a free vintage photograph as a souvenir. Also not to miss will be the dreamy croonings from folk singer/songwriter John Calvin. This free show is sponsored by the Norman Arts Council and STASH.
More about the IFP:

Inspired by a happenstance trip to a random flea market in Tulsa, and a subsequent brainstorming session with his facebook friends, The 2011 Imaginary Family Project (IFP) was coordinated by occasional amateur artist Quentin Bomgardner and co-sponsored by The Red Dirt Chronicles.

The project was based upon “lost” vintage photographs, which had been acquired at flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, and eBay – heirloom collections, with no heir.

Over half of the authors are residents of Oklahoma and include the likes of Sterlin Harjo, Melissa Scaramucci, Charles Martin, Dorothy Alexander, and Wampus Reynolds. Other authors include academics from major university creative writing departments, people who have never written prior to this project, and other unique individuals with their own stories as to why they chose to join this project. Ultimately, stories were written from all over the United States and across 3 different continents.

Every week a different author “found” one photograph by creating an imagined history around one of its subjects. Kicked off in the first week of January, 2011 and completed during the last week of that year, the work has now been compiled into book form.

This publication is the group presentation of that collective work, and represents exactly what “The Imaginary Family Project” was intended to be: 52 stories for forgotten photographs selected by their authors, and written from a wide variety of diverse, creative and unique perspectives.

The creators and authors hope you enjoy reading the works as much as they enjoyed seeing each story come to life.

***

The authors dedicate this project to anyone who will ever find themselves the subject of a lost photo.

Drinking from the Cup of Friendship: My Tidal School Winery Road Trip

IMG_0037It’s been a while since I’ve been on a good old-fashioned road trip. Evidence of this fact was demonstrated when I stopped at the turnpike entrance on I-44 east, pulled over on the shoulder and called Mick.

“Um, I think I missed that Park-and-Ride lot, babe. Are you SURE it’s there?”

“There” meant “on the north side of N.E. 122nd, across from the Shell truck stop, but not yet over the I-35 bridge.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s still there…” I could tell he was using his patient voice, and I deeply appreciated that as I did a U-turn, drove along the shoulder facing oncoming traffic, waved at most of the cars as I passed, and headed back to the mystery place.

“Oh, THERE it is!” I said as I suddenly spied a brand new thing I had never witnessed before.

I pulled into the parking lot while telling Mick goodbye. “Hey, there are my friends. Thanks sweetie, gotta go!”

There they were: Katie, Rose, and a Full Day waiting on us to get started. In no time flat, we were packed up and headed back to I-44, this time driving the proper direction down the on-ramp to the turnpike.

IMG_0035

We were headed to Drumright, Oklahoma to check out the Tidal School Winery. Armed with our “Living Social” Deals printed on clean white paper, we chatted about stuff (and by “stuff” I mean girl talk…and by “girl talk” I mean, well, stuff) until we hit the Stroud exit.

I thought our trip would be 1:45 to get to Drumright. We got there in an hour flat. And we were hungry. Continue reading Drinking from the Cup of Friendship: My Tidal School Winery Road Trip

Oklahoma Headlines 2012, Year in Review – JULY

Screen Shot 2013-01-18 at 1.17.39 PM(Photo by Sarah Phipps)

July 2012 was a hot, hot month.  The state had been drying up for a while, but emergencies were finally being declared.  Check out the headlines that made Oklahoma history last year around Independence Day…

  • Oklahoma Hispanic population continues to grow
  • Concerns about State Capitol building and art displays mount
  • OKC Thunder and Scott Brooks come to a coaching contract agreement
  • Robin Leander Howard died four days after police used force to arrest him
  • Agritourism and Oklahoma vineyards work together for growth and development
  • Six athletes from the University of Oklahoma are London-bound for the Olympic games
  • Judge upholds Edmond man’s 15-year prison sentence for an Iraqi civilian killing
  • Higher education leaders worry about shrinking state funding
  • Oklahoma City district is set to launch a free online school this fall
  • An audit of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church reveals $110K missing
  • Mother is sentences for her part in fire that killed three children
  • Celebration of what would have been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday are held across the state, nation and world
  • Shannon Miller reflects on her multi-medal Olympics 20 years ago
  • 10,000 attend American Idol auditions in Oklahoma City
  • Gene Stipe dies at age 85
  • Drought worsens across the state; Fallin declares states of emergency
  • Olympics in full swing, Oklahoma City Thunder players enjoy playing time

Oklahoma Headlines 2012 – Year in Review, JUNE

Screen Shot 2013-01-10 at 9.59.40 AM(left – cover of the Daily Oklahoman when the Thunder was defeated in the last NBA championship playoff game)

Well, June of 2012 was arguably some of the most extreme emotional highs and lows for many Oklahomans as the OKC Thunder beat SanAntonio in the Western Conference finals and advanced to the NBA Championship series against the Miami Heat.  But what else took place in our state last June?  Check it out…

  • Governor signs DHS reform bills
  • Long time OKC nemesis, Charles Barkley, gets to know the City
  • OKC police chief reports needing 200 new officersOU student Casey Cooke falls to her death from a fire escape on campus
  • The Thunder win the Western Conference Championship – prepare for Miami
  • Oklahomans do well at the CMT Music Awards
  • Reba McEntire received the Annie Oakley Society Award
  • Western art exhibits and the Red Earth Festival keep Oklahoma culture awareness high
  • Report shows behavioral health prescriptions for foster children in OK growing
  • Legislators and defense counsel testify in “Prater smear campaign” charges
  • Cleveland county decides to quite releasing mug shots
  • “Thunder Pride” impacts entire state as Miami closes in on the Championship
  • Miami wins series against Thunder 4-1, and takes NBA title
  • The Edmond senatorial campaign heats up; Blair files suit against Jolley
  • Oklahoma City rated as U.S.’s “Manliest” metropolis
  • Trains collide in Goodwell; three train employees killed
  • Barry Switzer vies for a spot on the NCAA football playoff work committee
  • Meth rings continue to be raided and disrupted, while more spring up
  • U.S. Supreme Court upholds health care measure; OK impacted in several ways due to not accepting money to set up insurance exchange
  • Pawnee Wild West show continues annually, drawing larger crowds

Oklahoma Headlines 2012 – Year in Review, MAY

westbrook v san antonioWhen looking back through the 2012 headlines, for some reason May seemed like a “bummer” month. Usually, the good and icky news balance out, but this month seemed solemn.  Maybe you’ll have a different take?  Here we go…

(Photo: R. Westbrook reacts to the game situation in playoffs versus the San Antonio Spurs – Brett Deering, Getty Images)

  • State’s top court rules personhood bill unconstitutional.
  • Ponca City area hit with flooding, locals spent time and manpower searching for cattle swept away.
  • Chesapeake asks Aubrey McClendon to step down as chairman of the board; seeks independent chair to replace him.
  • An A-F grading system is approved for Oklahoma public schools.
  • Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure ordered to repay state $70K in adoption fraud money.
  • Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thomson’s, crown is stolen from her car.
  • David Tyner pleads guilty to killing six people in “Cathouse” case.
  • OKC Thunder sweeps Dallas Mavericks to win the first step in the NBA playoff series.
  • The Cheyenne and Araphaho Tribes ask a federal judge to “un-freeze” 6.4 million dollars in assets from a bank in Clinton.
  • Barry Switzer celebrates a 40-year affiliation with the Special Olympics of Oklahoma.
  • Christopher Dunham is found guilty of neglect in the fire-related deaths of three children, left locked inside a mobile home.
  • Governor Fallin signs the open carry bill.
  • Conner Mason enters a guilty plea in “Bicycle Bob’s” death.
  • Post-game gun attach close to Thunder Alley stirs a debate about watch party events held in open, public places.
  • Legislative session ends with no deal on income tax cuts nor repairs for the Capitol.
  • Thunder wraps up month of May down 0 games to 2 in the third round of NBA playoffs against San Antonio.

Oklahoma Headlines 2012 – Year in Review, APRIL

marathon03Oklahoma did much more than “March on” after the month of March, 2012.  In fact, in APRIL there was some running involved!  Running marathons, running from storms, running down the basketball court…lots and lots of running.  Check it out:

(photo left – OKC Memorial Marathon, Daily Oklahoman)

  • OSU Cowgirl Basketball team celebrates winning the WNIT.  Shelly Budke, wife of the team’s recently deceased coach, cut down the victory net.
  • Prices at the gas pump are hurting industry and private individuals across the nation.  Oklahoma keeps watch on the situation as an energy producing state.
  • As flooding over the years increased, residents in the unincorporated are of Crutcho reluctantly consider or accept buyout options.
  • Oklahoma starts take spotlight positions at the Academy of Country Music awards including: Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert.
  • 25 year-old soldier from Checotah dies in Afghanistan.  James E. Dutton is one of many who gave their life in the ongoing Middle East operations.
  • Tribes continue to make headlines regarding online payday loan businesses and water rights issues.
  • New ballpark name (Newcastle Casino Field) stirs heavy criticism.  The Chickasaw Nation responded by choosing a new name: “Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.”
  • Oklahoma City sees rapid population growth in 2010 and 2011.  The OKC metro now stands at >1.2 million.
  • The final 45th Infantry Brigade returns to the U.S., much to the relief of Oklahomans.
  • 27 “mom and pop” convenience store owners sue the Oklahoma Tax Commission for “unusually harsh sales tax audits.”
  • 2 white men accused of killing 3 black residents and injuring two others on shooting spree are arrested.
  • Ken Burns debuts footage from his latest project, “The Dust Bowl.”
  • Bela Fleck visits the American Banjo Hall of Fame prior to his concert at RoseState.
  • In a report prepared for Senator Coburn, recommendations to limit crop loss subsidies are considered.
  • An EF3 rated tornado leaves six dead plus major damage in Woodward.
  • Norman homeowners unite to ease restrictions on back yard chickens.
  • 17 years after the OKC bombing, victims are reflecting in different ways as well as graduating from college.
  • Suspect Kevin Sweat, charged in the killings of two Weleetka girls, as well as the death of his girlfriend, has preliminary hearing.
  • Meta World Peace injures James Harden with forceful elbow jab.
  • “Personhood Bill” involves many activists on all sides of the issue.
  • 5 southwestern areas in Oklahoma experience triple digit heat in April.
  • State House passes the “Open Carry” measure.
  • Kevin Durant earns top NBA scoring title.
  • Blackburn and Weeden are first round draft picks.
  • Governor Fallin signs fetal heartbeat bill into law.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder begins NBA playoffs against Dallas Mavericks.
  • 2,700 runners finished the full OKC Memorial Marathon, and 8,138 others completed related events.

Oklahoma Headlines – 2012: Year in Review, MARCH

obama at tinkerMarch was a long, full and busy month in the state of Oklahoma.  Don’t believe me?  Check out just a few of the highlights we experienced in our state!

(Photo at left by Brian Terry, Daily Oklahoman.  President Obama visits Tinker Air Force Base, March 22, 2012)

  •  Oklahoma County commissioners move forward with a plan to build a new jail at the cost of $330 million.
  • State fire marshal agent recommends the Pauline E. Mayer children’s shelter be closed if continued overcrowding problems cannot be corrected.
  • Oklahoma City concludes it’s 9th warmest winter on record.
  • Reverend Joe Carter, a former Oklahoma City resident, led Whitney Houston’s funeral.
  • “Right size” and “smaller size” state government become buzzwords in legislative culture as public officials looks for ways to streamline state workforce.
  • Oklahoma City Civic Center prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.
  • Senator Mike Morgan is convicted of one bribery count.
  • “MAPS for kids” projects move toward completion; illustration of this was a ribbon cutting ceremony at Sequoyah Elementary school for a renovation.
  • U.S. Airforce decides to shut down a unit that employed 600 persons at Tinker Air Force base.
  • Rick Santorum wins the Oklahoma GOP primary.
  • An announcement was made that Garth Brooks would be among the next inductees into the County Music Fall of Fame.
  • Audit reveals that $2.3 million was spent by the Department of Education through slush funds, mostly under the watch of former Superintendent Sandy Garrett. Current Education officials also used foundation funds for questionable expenses.
  • OU students petition Boren for gender-neutral housing.
  • New report cites addiction costs Oklahoma $7.2 billion per year. Follow up report show that overdoses of prescription pain and anxiety medications take more Oklahoma lives each year than car crashes. Further, a second report showed that drug abuse costs U.S. employers a whopping $276 billion per year.
  • Barry Switzer states he’s worked with a movie producer on a potential biography film.
  • Religious artifacts collection owned by the Green family (Hobby Lobby owners) is on display at the Vatican.
  • State of Oklahoma report shows catastrophic storms have cost insurance companies over $1 billion in repair/recovery costs in recent years.
  • Oklahoman Mason Cook will join Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp in new “Long Ranger” movie.
  • A jury returned a $4.55 million verdict against Creoks mental Health Services for failing to report sexual abuse.
  • The Oklahoma City Museum of Art celebrates its 10th anniversary with special activities and events including a 70th anniversary screening of “Casablanca.” [quoted from the Daily Oklahoman]
  • Devon prepares for a move to the new tower.
  • A State Integrity Investigation reveals problematic “openness” policy with state policies and awards Oklahoma a “D,” and a ranking of 38th out of 50for information access. Frequent delays to requests were cited.
  • President Obama makes first visit to Oklahoma to announce new pipeline plans a priority. While here, he pledged support foro the pipeline project at location in Cushing.
  • OKC Thunder welcomes new point guard Derek Fisher.
  • Two men were arrested after they pulled up to Gaffney Crane Inc. and stole a one ton crane.
  • The Oklahoma State Capitol is in desperate need of repairs, and some parts are sectioned off due to safety concerns. A $150 million dollar bond project could be option for repairs.
  • Concerns continue for the stalled American Indian Museum and Cultural center. The City of Oklahoma City pledges to pay $9 million of the more than $80 million remaining on the project.
  • A judge strikes down a “mandatory ultrasound prior to abortion” measure.
  • In the middle of a large and burdensome U.S. recession, Oklahoma’s employment rate falls to 6% – far below the national average.

Oklahoma Headlines – 2012: Year in Review, FEBRUARY

Controversial SkyDance Bridge project almost complete.  Photo by Doug Hoke, Daily Oklahoman.

Continuing our review of the Oklahoma headlines for 2012, we now move to Febraury.  Here’s a quick snapshot of the news during a very busy, leap-year length month!

(Photo: Controversial SkyDance Bridge project almost complete. Photo by Doug Hoke, Daily Oklahoman.)

  • Blackwell residents received $118 million in damages related to a 1974 zinc smelter operation contamination.
  • Debate about federal birth control mandates heat up and Oklahoma Catholic leaders get involved.
  • Issues related to the Chickasaw and Choctaw nation lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma influence action from Governor Fallin to request mediation, and to drop the lawsuit.  The tribes’ response a few days later was to refuse dropping the action.
  • OKDHS named an interim chief, but then had to withdraw the placement because of “conflict of interest” concerns.
  • A narcotics dispensing law gets passed which required documentation for prescribing controlled medications.
  • The National Teacher Certification bonus was threatened with being abandoned due to lack of funds.
  • Emily Matheson and Fabio Brown were arrested for allegedly paying $250 to have Jessica Lynn Brown murdered.
  • Rick Santorum visited Oklahoma City to campaign for the Republican presidential spot on the 2012 ticket.
  • Jimmy Don Smith was sentenced to ten years in prison (in a plea deal) for the beating and resulting paralysis of police officer Chad Peery.
  • Oklahoma City Public Schools implement their first Daddy-Daughter dance to involved fathers of their students to a greater degree.
  • The state of Oklahoma paid $300K to settle a lawsuit filed by a mother who “hid her children after DHS workers rejected her concerns the girl had been molested.”  The mother spent time in jail rather than give up the whereabouts of her daughter.
  • Anthony Shadid, Pulitzer Prize winning author, dies at age 43 on assignment in Syria.
  • Announcements are made about the play, “August: Osage County” being made into a film.  Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are to star in the project, and it will be shot on location in Oklahoma.
  • The Oklahoma City Thunder continues a strong winning record on their home course.
  • The I-40 Crosstown project continue to open up new sections of the improvements, with the Sky Bridge project garnering praise and criticism.
  • Ron Paul’s stop at the Oklahoma State Capitol drew a large crowd.
  • Scott Brooks was named to coach the Western Conference in the All-Star game.  His team won the game, with Kevin Durant leading the scoring.
  • A trial examining charges against State Senator Mike Morgan re: political corruption gets much paper and TV time.

Tomorrow, we’ll lead you through the mighty month of March, 2012!

Oklahoma Headlines – 2012: Year in Review, JANUARY

( PHOTO: Galen Scott, his wife Jennifer and six-month old Benjamin embrace as Scott returns from deployment in January, 2012. Photo by Scott Sisney, Daily Oklahoman.)father arriving home

My, my, how time does fly!  So the Red Dirt Chronicles is going to help remind you about what flew by in our Oklahoma headlines during 2012. 

For the next several days, we’ll be releasing a quick snapshot of headlines we’ve reviewed from either the Daily Oklahoman or Tulsa World, and summarizing them here for you.

First up? January.  Here we go…

  • OSU beat Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl with a last minute play to end the game at 41-38.  Celebrations ensued.
  • The Oklahoma City Thunder began raising energy across Oklahoma with buzz about “what if” when talking about a NBA Championship.
  • OKDHS troubles and changes included closure on a lengthy lawsuit, and the decision by Director Hendrick to retire as Director of the agency.
  • The first death row execution of 2012 happened here in the state of Oklahoma when inmate Gary Welch was put to death for fatally stabbing Robert Hardcastle in a 1994 drug dispute.  Welch was kept from committing suicide three weeks prior to his execution.
  • Boeing added one thousand jobs to the state.
  • The I-40 crosstown lanes opened, and crews began tearing down the old bridge sections.
  • Judge Tammy Bass was convicted of fraud against the state foster care system.
  • Special note: On January 31st of 2011, 18 year old Sarah McKinly, mother of a three month old baby, shot Justin Martin as he intruded into her mobile home.
  • The jury was selected for the Garth Brooks’ trial vs. Integris at Rogers County Court House.
  • Obama blocks the national pipeline project, then senators began to rally for a bill to bypass Obama’s blocking action.
  • Oklahoma City Councilman “Skip” Kelly arrested on a DUI charge for the 2nd time.
  • And…
  • Joe Paterno died at 85 years of age, following a horrific Penn State scandal wherein multiple levels of negligence were revealed related to protecting children on campus from being sexually abused by assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.

Check us out tomorrow if you’d like to review the Oklahoma headlines for February, 2012!

Christmas Music To My Tastebuds: “Woody Candy Co. Is OPEN”

This sign has magical powers. It makes my taste buds sing Christmas tunes.

https://www.adaptx.ca/services/compliance/ Note – we published this post on Dec. 11 last year.  I believe it’s so important that I’m re-publishing it this year…11 days earlier! ~ RDK  This little neon sign holds a special power over me every year. The moment the “on” switch is finally flipped by a mysterious candy maker, an invisible beacon begins to sound across the prairie…over the north side of OKC and across Edmond…until it reaches my taste buds. It’s like Christmas Music, only in my mouth! What is so powerful, so unique and so delicious as to send me swooning around this time of year? It’s Woody Candy Company (Oklahoma’s Oldest & Finest Family Owned Candy Company), going strong since 1927. Their full array of special candy recipes are offered every year to the public ~ from Thanksgiving weekend through Valentine’s Day. After that? Closed again…until the next year.

Find where the origin of the powerful beacon at 922 N.W. 70th, Oklahoma City, OK.

Claude and Lucille Woody set out 93 years ago to do one thing very well: “To make the best candy in the world.”  In MY world, there is no doubt that they succeeded.  I personally think there must be something very special about the name Lucille. I may have to change my super-hero persona to a cowgirl who rides horses, shoots targets with precision accuracy AND makes “the best candy in the world!”

I want to take you there, but I can’t take all of you. There’s not enough room in my car.  So instead, I will take you there with a few photos I “shot” today with my six-shooter (my Canon PowerShot SD970IS).  I hope you can go on your own.  And if you do, tell them Red Dirt Kelly sent you.  This message will confuse them since they have no idea who I am.  But it will be fun for me!  I’ve gone to this store for eight years in a row.  I was introduced to this magical place by my friend Joanne, and now I’m introducing you in case you don’t know about this special secret.

And one more thing…comment on this blog, and I will enter you into a drawing (to be given away next Friday) for your choice of either: 1) A box of Toffle; 2) A box of their version of what you know as Aunt Bill’s candy; or, 3) A box of their delectable “Turtle” candies – caramel, chocolate and Oklahoma pecans. The average price ranges from $15 to $30 per box.  If you’ve never had Toffle, you might not understand what it’s like to have a glimpse of heaven on earth.  Toffee, sweet, salty, crunchy with HUGE pecans…it’s a dream…

Continue reading Christmas Music To My Tastebuds: “Woody Candy Co. Is OPEN”

Hubby Walks

20121202_170233

“See that cracked asphalt?”

“Yeah. The road’s starting to break down, isn’t it?”

“Well, maybe. But I was just thinking it looks like my facial skin feels after I get out of a hot shower in the morning.”

“Oh. And it also looks like my lips when they get chapped.”

Mick and I were walking and when it’s just you, a country road and 1.5 hours of time together, these are the kinds of conversations that happen.

For the past two days, we’ve walked 4.5 and 4.0 miles respectively. Our paths have been different four square mile routes and we’re discovering quite a bit of brand new information about the area in which we’ve lived for the past eight years. For example, someone close to us sells goats. That was brand new information.

20121202_171204

There is a “Two Bears Creek” on Coffee Creek Road and the owners of the land adjacent to the creek put two baby ceramic bears out by the road, in case anyone needed a smile.

We identified at least three different kinds of animal poo, decided the neighborhood association needs to sponsor a “trash pick up day,” saw some rats, took a peek at the police firearm training facility, checked out some Angus cattle, found a perfectly good sun protector (those kind that fold out and keep your car from turning into a convection oven during the summer), and yelled at a couple of bluejays.

One other thing…I think I asked to stop at least twenty times because for the past two days the sunsets have been amazingly, outrageously, incredibly, georgeously lovely… Continue reading Hubby Walks

December in Altus, America

Snow is falling on this chilly fall night, causing me to shift gears from Thanksgiving clean-up to Christmas preparations. Amy Grant will sing about a “Tender Tennessee Christmas”. Those boys from Alabama serenade us with “Christmas in Dixie.” Becky Hobbs will sing the song she penned, “Oklahoma Christmas”.  The rest of us enjoy singing our favorite Christmas carols at church over the next few weeks, counting down to the day we celebrate the birth of Christ.

The song that will best describe me this year is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” . . . if only in my dreams. My husband and I established our home in rural Indiana shortly after tying the knot at Tulsa in 1988. Even though I am very happy here, Southwestern Oklahoma will always hold a special place in my heart. With that in mind, it’s time for another visit to the red dirt area of Altus – even if it’s only in my dreams.  (Cue the wavy screen effect)

So, what is so special about Altus this time of year? Too many memories for me to recount here, instead let’s take a peek at some of the current Christmas celebrations happening this month.

Jimmy Geigle has organized the 3rd annual Toy Run for motorcyclist this year. It is scheduled to take place Saturday, December 1 at 12:30 pm. Riders from across the state will join the run with a parade escort to deliver toys to the Altus Fire Department. The toys will be distributed by the Salvation Army and DHS.  Folks around Altus are generous to a fault, but it never ceases to amaze me when the pictures from the Toy Run are posted. Many of the motorcycles look like they are carrying the entire contents of Santa’s sleigh!

The annual Christmas Parade steps off from the parking lot of Western Oklahoma State College. on Sunday, December 2, at 3 p.m., Complete with a police escort, marching bands, floats, and of course, Santa’s grand arrival via Altus Fire Truck, the parade is a ton of fun for people of all ages. While the Altus Times reports this as the 32nd annual Christmas Parade, it has been going on for much longer. From watching it as a child, sometimes perched on Papa’s shoulders, to riding a motorcycle in the parade for several years during the 1970s, memories of the Christmas parade fill my mind with happiness untold.

Christmas would not be Christmas without cantatas and candle-lit services. Tabernacle Baptist Church will present a cantata on Sunday, December 16. Southside Baptist Church will share their cantata on Sunday morning, December 23. Emmanuel Baptist Church will celebrate the Reason for the Season with a candle-light service on Christmas Eve. A quick google search gave the above information – there are probably other churches in town with their own Christmas celebrations. Take time this season to remember that Christ’s birth is the reason for the season.

The Christmas lights of Altus shine brightly this time of year. Families and businesses deck the halls with many gorgeous displays, making a drive thru town at night a festive affair. Nothing, however, can top the “Christmas in the Park” display at the Altus City Park, located on East Broadway, between Park Lane and Park Avenue. The park becomes a magical mix of vision, love, labor and lights, a tradition that began around thirty years ago, with the vision of Sonny Tims and a handful of other longtime Altusans.

Rumors abound that this could be the last year for the lights, due to vandalism. Thanks to a handful of dedicated elves, this year’s show is now in progress nightly. Park your car or truck at the Altus High School parking lot, and take a stroll thru the park. Enjoy the work of the elves as you gaze at the lighted Christmas trees and animated displays while creating some new memories for you and your family.

Before or after enjoying these treats that Altus has to offer during December, take time to patronize some of the locally owned businesses and restaurants. Some favorite stops along the way are the Sunshine Café and Roberts’ Drive-In (which is now a sit-in diner) on East Broadway. The Grapevine Café or Benny’s Pizza & Mexican Restaurant on North main are also quite tasty. To finish off your shopping list, visit Petal Pushers, Scott Farms (for your “Made In Oklahoma” gifts) or the Sandyland Vineyard.

(Cue the wavy screen effect)

Looks like I have been off in dreamland way too long now. It is time to get bundled up, go outside and shovel some snow. Wonder if I’ll see some Christmas lights out there?

 

Sources:

Jimmy Geigle
http://www.altustimes.com/view/full_story/1390548/article-3rd-annual-Toy-Run-for-Kids-to-be-held-Saturday

http://www.altustimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Altus+Christmas+Parade+registration+being+held%20&id=20929552&instance=top_stories

http://sandylandvineyard.com/SandyLand_Vineyard/Welcome.html

http://scottfarms.net/default.html

http://www.petalpushersflowers.com/

Fritos and Raindrops

Tonight I was working with my daughter’s friend on a project we’ve had “in process” for six and one-half years.  We had just finished our last review when a young man she was dating showed up at the door.  He had venison in tow, and they were going to make deer chili for dinner.

I was lost in the world of placing orders on the internet when a piece of conversation rushed through the air and broke apart the mental fog covering my head.

“…well, you could have some Fritos with it, or some cheese…”

“I think I’ll have some Fritos AND some cheese…”

For some reason I can only attribute to my weariness level, I fixated on the word “Fritos.”  I thought about the fact that we have half a bag at home, closed with a rubber band, and that I should probably make some chili too.

Then I thought about a time when I was very young, and I was in a car parked in my grandpa’s pasture beside his farm pond.  We had gone there to fish, and someone – either my grandpa, or my uncle, or someone in my family – was telling me that the fishing was always better in the rain.  They had a bag of Fritos in the car and offered me some.

I felt safe in the car, learning the basics of fishing from someone whom I assumed knew it all.  Me, a family member, a bag of Fritos, and a rainy day….

I snapped out of my day dreaming and smiled.  I don’t know where that memory came from, but I needed it.  I closed my eyes and thought about the raindrops coming down onto the surface of the pond that day.

I love Fritos.

But I really, really love little memories like that one.

I Won’t Tell You One of My Secrets

I sometimes wonder if I absorbed too many of the ideals within childhood novels like “Mandy” and “The Secret Garden.”  I certainly understand the longing of both protagonists to have their own “bit of earth.” Or to discover, clean and claim as their own…. a remote “Seashell Cottage” hidden deep within the woods somewhere.

I think those novels, plus a culmination of my years of being a dreamer influenced me to truly embrace the historical home we bought downtown in 1990. And to truly grieve when we sold it and moved back to Suburbia.

I love old homes; my mind erupts with the possibilities of the lives, conversations, and events that transpired within their walls.  When I walk through one, it’s as if my spirit communes with the ghosts of past conversations still living in the air, in the wood and emitting from the beams or chimneys.

That’s why I take time to walk through a few of them every year.  Sometimes when there’s an open house I’ll duck into it upon a whim.  Other times, there might be one for sale and I just might call the realtor to see if they happen to be visiting the property, and when, and…if I “could meet them there to do a walk-through…and, no, I’m really not interested, but I might be someday…and I might run into someone who is.”

That’s how I found my most recent muse.  It’s my secret house.  But I can’t tell you about it, really, because if I did I might give away all the research I’ve already done on the house. And then if I do, it wouldn’t be my secret world anymore, right?

So, I won’t tell you about a home on Northeast 36th Street in Forest Park, Oklahoma.  I won’t tell you that it’s involved in a long, drawn-out foreclosure process that is taking the maximum amount of time possible so that the poor house is falling into more and more disrepair as each day goes by.  I won’t tell you that the entire police force of Forest Park has taken it upon themselves to keep an eye on the place because they want to protect the property for the person who eventually does buy it.

I won’t tell you that the home sits on a five acre lot right in the center of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, nor that not only is the house huge but there is a second home on the property that appears to have been built around 1945-1960, based upon the wood paneling and style inside.

I won’t tell you that there are numerous animal cages, sheds, and a ton of junk hiding behind the trees and bamboo growing on the property…and that the cleanup process would probably reach over the $50K mark.

I won’t tell you that if you crawl over the rock wall Continue reading I Won’t Tell You One of My Secrets

“Your Financial Obligation is to Obey the Speed Limits”

There’s something you should know about me.  I am a very effective driver.

What I mean by “effective” is that I don’t generally speed in vast way, but I always drive at least the speed limit.  I never get tickets, and I haven’t been involved in a wreck since my youthful days.  I turned thirty, and for some reason my need for speed disappeared.  Well, unless I was test driving a really cool car.  And, well, until today.

I’m off work today and one of my tasks was to meet with my doctoral advisor.  We have a laundry list of tasks to complete and I was driving to the university too quickly.  I suppose I just wanted to get to Stillwater, “get ‘er done” and get home.  It’s Thanksgiving Eve, for crying out loud.

Then my husband called while I was en route.  He was headed to the golf course and though he left his prescription eye glasses in my car.  Could I look?

“Oh, sure babe…I’d love too, but right now I’m getting pulled over by the highway patrol.  I’ll call you back.”

“Uh…okay.”

I pulled over in an efficient manner.  I unzipped my backpack quickly, immediately found my driver’s license and insurance card, and had both the drivers and passenger windows completely down before the patrolman even reached my car. If you find yourself in a situation involving a DUI, DUI Lawyers Fort Myers can provide expert legal representation to help you through the process.

As he leaned down, he was met with the sight of my arm fully extended, offering him my identification and promise that I was keeping myself and others protected with insurance.  He looked like he was about to say something so I just jumped in and cut him off.

“It’s completely my fault.  I was speeding.  I’m going to a meeting at the university and I got in a hurry.  I’m very sorry and this is totally a “NO CONTEST” situation.  You’re right, I was wrong.  Here’s all the information you need.”

He hesitated for about 2 seconds.  Then said, “Uh, ma’am, I clocked you going 83 in a 75 zone.”

“I have no doubt that you did. Continue reading “Your Financial Obligation is to Obey the Speed Limits”

Here is Exactly How it Is…That “Student Getting Into Your Heart” Thing

Somewhere over the Arkansas-Louisiana border at 40,000 feet I was startled out of my daydreaming state by an announcement coming over the cabin microphone: “Kelly from Edmond? Would you please turn on your call light?”

“Cripes,” I thought to myself.  Then I said it aloud. “Cripes!  I probably dropped my wallet or something.”  I was talking half to myself and half to an OSU student I had met who had lots of questions about flying.  She was sitting across the aisle from me grinning.  “Um…” I started.  Then I made eye contact with the flight attendant who was standing in the first class section and waved weakly.  “Here I am…”  My voice trailed off.  I felt like a child.

The flight attendant saw me, smiled way bigger than should have fit a wallet-losing scenario, and began making her way down the aisle.  When she reached me, she held out her hand and offered me a piece of paper that looked like airline-logo-stuff.  “Here you go,” she said.  “The people in seats one and two sent these to you as their compliments.”

I turned the paper over.  Printed on the back were two coupons, good for a snack or a drink.  I glanced up at her, “Um. Well, thanks!  Can I buy a ‘hug coupon’ from you and send it their way??”  She smiled and returned to the front.

The gift was from the parents of a former drama student of mine I taught approximately 18 years ago.  However, he wasn’t just any student.  This was one of those students who wrestled his way into my heart no matter how hard I tried to keep the door shut. He was brilliant, mischievous (okay, he was a real brat), in trouble constantly, and to this day I still hear from him about once a year. As I fidgeted with the coupons, my thoughts drifted backward…

I allowed him to borrow my car once because his was blocked in and I needed someone to pick up pizza for our set construction day.  He did.  He wanted to do something nice for me.  So, he drove my car five miles further than I expected, filled up my gas tank with his father’s credit card, then drove away with the gas line and pump still attached to my car.  This was before they had “break-away” hoses, so he pulled the entire pump over, and my insurance paid out a $6800 settlement six months later.  A week after that, the gas station closed it’s doors.  Go figure.

This same kid attended at least three of my children’s birthday parties, made a brief showing at my daughter’s wedding, came by for my younger daughter’s high school graduation party, and dressed up as a gumball machine for one particular party when they were younger.  He tied a 55 gallon translucent garbage bag around his knees, filled it with all colors of inflated balloons, then taped the top around his neck. Oh, and two days after my hysterectomy I was lying on my couch at home recovering when he and his new bride stopped their “get away limo,” ran into my house, and gave me a hug in their wedding clothes before leaving for their honeymoon.

This is the same kid that stole the 6-foot blue hippo from a car wash on Broadway in Edmond, Continue reading Here is Exactly How it Is…That “Student Getting Into Your Heart” Thing

101 Uses for a Delta Airlines Barf Bag: #93

Ten years ago, I used to get a little freaked out about airplane flights.  Perhaps because my children were younger and my mothering instinct was hyperactively feeding me thoughts prior to take off.  The sequence would go something like this: “I’m sure this plane is safe.  What if it’s not? They don’t even have those little kiosks for plane crash insurance in the airport like they used to…if they did, I would have gotten some.  If the plane starts going down, will I have enough time to write Mick instructions about all the kids’ activities at school and special circumstances regarding our mommy car pool? Why am I thinking this – of COURSE the plane is safe!…But what if it’s not?”

I also used to politely look at the flight attendant providing instructions for a “water landing” when they were giving their schpiel prior to take off.  I used to purchase airport food more often because I didn’t think about eating before I went in or about packing snacks in my purse.  I used to over pack.  I used to check my ticket fifty times each flight and think about what the next step might be when we landed, such as finding the baggage claim area or the bathrooms.

I used to do a lot of things that drained most of my mental energies and kept me from enjoying my trips when I flew somewhere for business.  Not any more.  A combination of grown children, flying three or four places per year over the past decade, and becoming familiar with most of the major U.S. airports has done wonders for my psychological state during business trips.

Yesterday I flew to Atlanta.  I normally allow myself one luxury item per trip and that usually takes the form of some fiction paperback I can finish on the first day.  I had already purchased my copy of John Grisham’s “Ford County Stories” for the flight (you know, Grisham – because I was headed to the South?) and was walking toward the Delta gate when I spied a small Sonic in the fast-food conglomerate past the bookstore.  “Sweet tea.  All I need to top off this delightful reading experience on my way to Atlanta is a Route 44 iced tea from Sonic,” I thought.  I careened left, changing lanes across the packed aisles of walking traffic in the airport and slid into the fast food line safely.

My ½ and ½ tea (I can’t drink straight sweet tea, I ask them to mix it with half unsweetened) was good for having been purchased at a place sporting 90% fried stuff on the menu.  I boarded the plane and began my book.  I don’t remember the flight starting.  I hadn’t really paid attention to the person who was sitting beside me.  I think at one point my right and her left elbows were jockeying for position on the arm rest.  And I was not cognizant of how long the flight would take or even that we had taken off.  I was already deeply entrenched in “Chapter One: Blood Drive;” I was being transported to a scene in a small town where three young men took a detour on their way to give blood for a local friend who had been injured.  I was in fiction heaven.

I was in the middle of “Chapter Three: Fish Files,” page 110 when the plane landed.  I reluctantly closed my book and said hello to the person sitting at my side.  She was from Norman, OK and was headed to Amsterdam to see her son.  I noticed she had a designer bag, perfect make-up and probably dyed her hair based upon the age of her face.  She looked cool and started a conversation with me; she talked cool too.  We chatted for a minute and I reached down to grab my tea.

Having rested in the magazine holder for the entire flight, a film of condensation had begun covering the outside of my Route 44 Sonic Cup and no sooner had I picked it up then it slipped from my fingers and fell to floor of the plane.  I sighed with relief as it landed because the cup remained in an upright position.  “Lucky break of the day,” I thought.  That thought had come too quickly, however, because when I picked the cup up an erratic stream of ½ and ½ tea began to leak out in two different directions.  Huh?  I looked at the bottom of the cup to see my extra long straw had somehow been harpooned right through the bottom of the cup upon impact.  I quickly thought about shoving it into my purse…no! I looked around and decided to put it back on the floor to utilize the pressure of the carpet, somewhat like you would when applying a tourniquet to a bleeding wound.  I turned around to look for any leftover cup the flight attendant missed and was met with a barf bag hovering right in front of my face.

“Barf bag!” my cool seat mate exclaimed, “Try this!”  Perfect.  I slipped the plastic coated bag underneath my Sonic cup and the situation was immediately contained.  I glanced back at my cool seat mate to thank her.  She winked knowingly.  “Those things are really handy,” she said, “For lots of reasons.”

I agreed and made a note to myself to Remember The Barf Bags.  As we headed down the plane aisle I glanced back at my seatmate.  She was reading as she walked in line out the door.

“She must have been flying for TWENTY years,” I thought with admiration.  I saluted her in my head while gripping my barf bag and headed into the airport.

~~

Editor’s Update: 12/7/2010 – make sure and check out our Barf Bag “Throwdown” follow up post written later this fall.