Memorial Day 2011

Thank You.

WooHoo for Extra Ketchup

Like many others, I’ve reconnected with some childhood friends through Facebook. Even though we lived in the same town, and continued through the same school system until high school graduation, many of those friendships started and ended without us ever knowing why. So when my one-time schoolmate, Debby, ‘friended me’ I was happy to reconnect.

When I learned that Debby had written a play that was going to be performed in a dinner theater production in my hometown – which Debby still calls home – I couldn’t wait to go see it. The premise of the play was right up my alley, too – “Extra Ketchup, Hot Flashes and Rum” centered around two 50-something friends who had a lot of shared excess baggage to try to unpack and sort through together. The women in the menopausal phase of their lives were hilarious and, trust me, I could relate! These gals were discovering some of the freedoms that come with being over 50. As for me, I consider it exploring and embracing my inner bitch.

The playbill promised that as viewers we would laugh, cry and maybe even pee our pants – and, indeed I could have benefited from a Poise pad. What a huge release laughter can be...

It was also awfully nice to see my childhood pal again after all these years . Thanks, social media!

The acting and directing were excellent, and the play had two sold out performances; and there is welcome talk of an encore presentation.

Congratulations, Debby! Keep up the good writing.

Casper Provides Proof Positive

I humbly submit photographic evidence that dogs are not all that smart -- definitely not smarter than cats. As a cat myself, this may seem to be a biased point of view. I have nothing against animals of the canine persuasion - some of my best friends have been dogs. It's just a fact of nature - not right or wrong, good or bad - it just is what it is.

Not many cats would even get on a motorcycle, and if for some reason they found themselves in a situation where it became vitally necessary, they would not do so without a helmet, for crying out loud.  Geeze Louise, what is this brown beauty thinking...

Tootles all - Have a Safe Weekend!
~~Casper~~

After the Storms

Last night a large line of severe storms cut through central Oklahoma. One large tornado ripped across a portion of Chickasha, where my son, daughter-in-law and grand-babies live, so there were some tense moments until I received a welcome text with those two beautiful words, "we're okay".  The town was hit pretty hard but the damage began about a mile away from my kids.

When storms are approaching, the news stations here in Tulsa have continuous weather coverage. Anybody who lives in Tornado Alley knows how to read those radars pretty well, and we can speak the weather lingo fluently. So... my night consisted of three hours in front of the TV tracking the storms and trying to decide when and if I needed to take cover.  Thankfully no tornadoes developed in Tulsa.

This evening, on my commute back home from work, I saw this rainbow - - suppose it's nature's pretty peace offering following the ugliness of a particularly stormy night?

May 23, 2011

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love spring.  But, I also HATE the tornadoes and the frequent severe and destructive storms that come along with spring here in the heartland. The tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri - our neighbors 110 miles to the east of Tulsa - has effected all of us. We carry in our hearts that draining feeling of helplessness. We want to offer aid and hope, but how? We can pray our most fervent and powerful prayers, and we can donate to those who are prepared and able to go to Joplin to provide shelter, food, clothes, comfort, support, and anything else that is needed, such as the American Red Cross.
And for all of us animal lovers, we don't want to forget the fine people dedicated to helping the frightened, injured and displaced pets, such as the The Joplin Humane Society.

My heart aches for all the people who are suffering in the aftermath.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

I love Spring!  Shopping for flowers with my best bud (unintentional pun) is always lots of fun and we have some beautiful landscape nurseries to enjoy here in Tulsa. This one is Southwood - my favorite.