Happy Birthday to Me (I'm glad I made it)

Well......I'm 52 today.....and I don't feel any older. A little wiser perhaps and I do feel like a lucky and blessed man.

Yesterday I missed being in a tornado (ef2) by only a half mile.

Every morning I deliver a paper route for the Tulsa World. It's something I generally enjoy doing. I tell people I get paid for listening to the radio and excercising. I generally like it except for mornings like yesterday.

At 4:30 AM I was making good time and the radio was saying there would be rain or a thunderstorm hitting the west side of Tulsa (where I deliver) by 6 am.

I deliver over 400 customers and I had to make a decision because the lightning was getting closer. I decided to head to the retirement village and break off from what I call my "country part" of the route. This would enable me to do my inside portion of the route when the rain started dumping as it looked like it would do any moment. So....I'm doing the "outside" of said retirement village and was at the back side of the complex when the clouds opened up immediately. I proceded to the inside part and 45 minutes later resumed the outside portion of the route. I found that the part I had broken from originally had down power lines and trees all over the place. I delivered what I could while some places were inaccessable. While delivering this part the radio informed me Tulsa Schools had cancelled school today, so I found myself with an unexpected day off. When I returned home, the local stations were showing damage done. This same tornado on the west side was the same one I think that took the roof off the businesses at 61st and Peoria and later did damage at Southern Hills CC and the area around LaFortune Park. They later said this was a EF 2 tornado.

I feel lucky and blessed because if I had not "broken off", I would have been right in the middle of it. One house was severely damaged as well as several roofs and countless trees, street signs, etc. You can see picks at

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100514_11_A1_Seanna660014

there is a slide show at the bottom. None of these show damage of where I was (or could have been)

Here a video of where I'm talking about thanks to KJRH.

http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/story/Tornado-hits-Sapulpa-and-storm-damages-homes-in-W/kVNr1avEeUi9m7PsfwkAsg.cspx

So I'm 52 and alive. Life is good.

Awesome Memory

A memory that stands out as "Magical" also happened at Disneyland which is known for its magicalness. I was dating Sandy and we spent the day doing what people do at this grand place. It was approaching the end of our visit. The parade was to start in about an hour and we decided to meet at the Crepe place (don't remember the name) and get something to eat or drink some hot chocolate. I believe it was Christmas time. This place is located on Main Street not too far from where you enter the park. I remember it was real close to the Abraham Lincoln attraction. We had our omelet or whatever and were getting ready to leave when the server said "Why leave"? "You have the best place to view the parade right where you're sitting. They start the parade right here". So we got refills of what we were drinking and 5 minutes later, it started. It was just such a cool, fun experience, one that we've always remembered..... watching the parade unfold so close to us. We were the first ones the characters would come up to. The whole experience was just wonderful. We repeated the event several times after, and while it wasn't as "magical" as the first time, it was still always a good time.
It seems like the last time we were there, the little cafe wasn't there anymore (maybe a victim of corporate America, and it didn't bring in enough revenue), but it's one of the memories that just stays with you for a lifetime.

Feeling Up

I went to see this wonderful movie today. My oldest son Ryan raved about it so I was eagerly anticipating a good time, and I wasn't disappointed. Without going into too much of the story line and ruining it for anyone, it is the animated tale of a man named Carl Fredricksen who after the death of his wife is about to lose his house to developers. You've seen the previews of how he uses helium balloons to transport his house. The script nicely sets up the story up to this point, which allows you to understand his reasons for doing such a preposterous thing. (hey this is fantasy, so you won't view it as preposterous).

I found myself getting a little weepy (I'm such a sap), 10 minutes in when the set up to the main plot happening.
The music was very well done as it covered several time periods and locations. The characterizations were on point. Carl is voiced by Ed Asner. Christoper Plummer (Sound of Music) has a main part. One of my favorite characters is a dog named "Dug", who is able to animate his voice in a nicely done magical way (you want to know how, see the movie).

There's enough in this movie to make the Kiddos and the adults thoroughly enjoy it. The humor is well thought out. When you're not laughing watching this movie, you're definitely smiling.

I highly recommend you see this in 3D if at all possible. I made a mistake and saw in in non 3D and plan on seeing it a second time. I don't do that often, so you know I loved this movie.

nothing in particular to say

It's been awhile since I've been here but have a few things on my mind. School is over so I have much more time for my blog and intend to visit it more often.

Foremost on my mind has been that of the happenings of the past year. In contrast to most other people, my happenings while somewhat depressing to me aren't really that bad compared to many people who are going through much worse. For me it's been a year of self realization. It's been a year of coming to grasps with who I am and what is important to me. It's been a year of disappointment and adjustment. I honestly don't think I'm having a mid life crisis, cause I don't feel regretful of where I am right now. It's just been a year of growth both spiritually and emotionally. It's been a time of awakenings.

I've always been a somewhat optimistic person, one that sees the glass half full. I'm always anticipating good things to happen to me. I think that's why the past year for me has been tolerable. It's my hope that over the next few blog entries I can address some of the stuff that has happened in the past 11-12 months. It won't be Earth shattering to the reader, but maybe it will help to further put the past behind me.

I sometimes think of the lyrics of a Gilbert O'Sullivan song.....

Whatever you are..... whatever you miss
Whatever you're thinking...... whatever it is
Whatever you feel and whatever you do
Remember there's always somebody
Worse off than you
Always somebody worse off than you
You know that there's always somebody
Worse off than you -

Yesterday it was learned a person died that was very active in the Tulsa music scene for the past 3 decades....here is what the Tulsa World Web site has to say. His name...Larry Dalton.

"Dalton was maybe best-known to Tulsa audiences for his work with the Signature Symphony throughout much of its three-decade history, in particular the Christmas concerts that featured Dalton's wizardry at the piano -- whether performing his own arrangements, a classical work, a popular standard, or improvising a medley from suggestions shouted at him from the audience.

But Dalton was truly a world-wide talent, from his days as part of the music ministry with Oral Roberts University, to working as an arranger, composer, conductor and performer with orchestras around the world, to overseeing an international music ministry -- the scope of his talents and the quality of his generosity often seemed boundless.

Tulsa -- and the world of music -- has lost a truly great and good man."


So while this is sad news for me, it's much sadder to many others....those that were close to him and of course his family.

so whatever you're going through, remember there's always somebody dealing with something worse....keep going....... you can make it!

Oklahoma city bombing

Today is the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. It's hard to believe it's been 14 years. I can remember where I was when it happened. I was in my Subaru crossing the Arkansas River on I-44. The morning show I was listening to was doing their 9 O'clock news and came in with the story at about 5 minutes after the hour. I think the bombing was at 9:02 so this was a quick responce. I went home and watched with the nation the recovery efforts. For me it was especially hard as these were fellow Okies.
Watching the memorial service the following Sunday was wretching. It stayed with me for weeks and still does to a small extent.

If you ever get a chance to visit the OK city bombing memorial, it would be time well spent. It will among other things remind you how life is so fleeting and how little control we really have on our mere existance. It's a place where we can go to reflect on our blessings and appreciate the wonderful life we have. So this anniversary reminds me to reflect on these things and that's definately not a bad thing to do.

State Testing, Susan Boyle and Choir Practice

Today my 3rd graders are finishing up their state tests and they have done wonderfully. Everyone I thought could pass... will, based on me walking around the room and looking at their responces. What great satisfaction comes at this time of the school year to see your kids really applying what you've given them. I remember watching one of my lower readers ponder a vocabulary question in which she had to come up with the right meaning for the word "stole" and while it took several attempts for her to come up with a responce, she got it right because she LOOKED for the context clue that made it "make sense" for her.

Last night was my first choir practice at the church we've been attending since October. Sandy joined the orchestra almost immediately but I was more hesitant to commit the time to a 90 voice choir. I haven't been part of a choir for about 3 years and it's been since college since I've done some of the material which this choir attempts. But I thought I would check it out. They've got me with the second tenors as that's where they needed me the most. I describe myself as a baritone with a rather nice range. My low end has suffered from not singing regularly and from age maybe. I can remember being a bass in high school and thinking what a macho thing it was to be able to sing "LOW" and thought all the tenors were just a little "girlie" because they couldn't sing low.

Well it was challenging for me and my sight reading was very rusty, but I think I'm gonna keep going and see what happens. It's one of those things where I have to measure my personal time vs. ministry. Theres gotta be some satisfaction for me to keep going. Maybe it will be new relationships that might be concieved. It will be challenging and that might be enough for me.

I need to talk about Britains Got Talent and the lady who wowed the judges and basically the world. Her name is Susan Boyle. When she made her appearance, the crowd and the judges weren't thinking the best as she is a little "simple" looking. But then she sang the whole place turned in an instant. She did a song form Les Miserables and nailed it. What a voice. You can check it out at http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4863134/12964979

State Testing and Jalapeno Cheetos

This week my 3rd graders are doing their State Profiency Tests so while it may seem a little stressful, for me it really isn't. After all, they either know it by now or they don't. So far they've done wonderfully and are taking great pride in doing their best. I've been blessed this year with some wonderful students. Seven of them qualified to go on a special field trip with the principal for meeting 100% of the qualifications of an online learning program called "Study Island". The most I ever had before was 4 qualify so this years achievement is exceptional.

Each year I learn to teach the material in a more effective matter and am already thinking about next years class and the approach I'm going to take. I am looking forward to that almost as much as summer vacation. NOT!

Have you tried the Jalapeno Cheetos that hit the Oklahoma market about 6 months ago. They are super addicting. I think they must have some kind of additive. I could swear I have an out of body experience while eating them. Maybe I just have a disorder. The funny thing is I used to not like Jalapeno peppers, but now I will put them on pizza, hamburgers and won't scoop them off any dishes that serve them with the entrees at the local mexican restarants.

Tonight I'm going to a choir rehearsal for the first time at a church Sandy and I started attending back in October. They mostly do a lot of the traditional pieces that I really haven't done in many years. It should be a great experience and am really looking forward to it.