Poke U

Go Pokes! Great game on Saturday. At least that was the general consensus. Football in any form makes my eyes roll back in my head. I used to try to be attentive - act like I care. But no. I really just don't.

The good thing about Saturday's game was that I was there in person, so the eyes stayed mainly in their sockets. I know when one of the dudes in orange appears to be running at high speed towards one of the goal posts that it's a good thing and I can cheer him on with the best of them. I know that when the old dude in the stripey pajamas puts his hands straight above his head it's a good thing. That would be a touch down and that is good news. Otherwise, I have a hard time following the ball or the game. My sister was a cheerleader one year in high school and I remember trying gamely to learn the rules. Something about first and down or fourth and down. I don't think they can go past four downs before they have to either get the stripey pajama guy to do his thing or politely give the ball to the other guys in the weird pants and Arnold Schwarzenegger shoulders.

It was a good occasion for hanging out with family though.

It was Dad's Day but we all butted in and went anyway. As my sister Shari said, "I didn't know cuteness was so important at these things." Probably because we were hanging out with the sorority bunch...or the pretty girls from the flag corp.

OSU Cousins! Do they not look like they could be sisters? I guess if their mothers are identical twins then genetically they are half sisters right? Anyone?

So other than hanging out with the beautiful people, I've just been working away saving the world one dollar at a time. The gig with United Way is going well. We mercifully finished training, have been assigned our sectors and accounts, and are busy raising those dollars. I've been assigned the entire education sector, which means I'm covering all the large school districts in the city and many of the small ones. Which is cool. Except teachers don't really get paid much here in Oklahoma and what they do get paid they spend on their students. So let's just say I'm glad I don't get paid on commission. Don't get me wrong - educators are some of the most generous people I know. But you can only squeeze a dollar so tightly before it squirts out its last penny. I'm just sayin'.

In other news, I entered a writing contest and... well, I guess that's all the other news. I should get the results in about six weeks, at which point I will have forgotten all about it.

Hope you have a great week! Hugs to all!!

Because Support Can Be Beautiful

Well, I didn't win anything, but it was an honor to be nominated, and for all three of you who voted for my blog in the Best Writing category of the 2009 Okie Blog Awards, it was much appreciated. Just having my name on the list brought a couple of hundred new folks to check out these pages, and hopefully added one or two new faithful readers. Because I like writing knowing someone out there is listening.

I have to say I am very impressed with the caliber of Oklahoma blogs these days. And not just because I was nominated. I'm serious! Just a few years ago the Okie blogs were pretty slim pick'ns. Remember Slim Pickens? He died in the early '80s so you probably don't. I am very impressed by the improving quality of blogging in Oklahoma. Sure, there's The Pioneer Woman, who is now a national phenomenon. But there's a growing number of really good blogs out there.

If you haven't taken the time to check some out, jump over there and see what our fellow Okies are up to. Here are a few I discovered along the way. Plus one of my favorite new bloggers who wasn't on any list...

Goldilocks and Her Fabulous Bears - Not nominated but one of my all time favorite Oklahoma bloggers. A very funny window into the life of at the State's University.

Tasha Does Tulsa - Winner of Best Culture Blog and Best Tulsa Blog. Think there's nothing to do in Tulsa? Think again.

Napkin Dad - Runner up for Most Inspirational blog.

Jeremy and Kathleen - I like the style of their blog. It won in the Best Kept Secret category.

Enjoy! And thanks for your support. At my age, everything needs a little more support.

And the nominee is...

The 2009 Okie Blog Award nominees are posted, and guess who is on the list? Mwa! I'm so excited! If you're an Oklahoma blogger, feel free to vote for CariOkie in the best writing category. Click on the CariOkie logo thingy over on the right to view voting rules. If you're not an Oklahoma blogger, you can still enjoy all the great Oklahoma blogs.

Motivational moments

Today our office went to the big-deal motivation seminar at the Cox Center here in OKC. It was a surreal experience. There before my very eyes, on stage in proud little Oklahoma City, were Joe Montana, Steve Forbes, General Colin Powell, Zig Ziggler, Rudy Guilliani, and best of all, former First Lady, Laura Bush. I just love that woman. She fascinates me. She's strong, elegant, intelligent, and above all, gracious.

The surreal part came with the 30 minute infomercials interspersed amongst the big names. Painful commercials promoting stuff you see on the odd channels on cable. You too can become a millionaire by learning to trade on the stock market, by buying and selling real estate, or by learning the intricacies of e-commerce. All for a mere $99.99.

I'm just not a signer-upper. I do not run to the latest fad. I do not believe they make anyone rich except the promoters. It's possible I miss out on fabulous, life-changing opportunities by living this way. But I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure that hard work, persistence, integrity, compassion and treating people right are the keys to a successful life. I'm aware those are not innovative thoughts. Those are free to all and do not require two day seminars.

But hey, I got to explain such things as hanging chads and life-threatening George Bush pretzel incidents to coworkers who were barely out of grade school when Laura Bush became First Lady. And they got to explain kj52 (kj5tweezy) to me. So that was an experience not to miss.

The day was, in fact, oddly motivating.

Silly is as silly does. Or something like that.

I've been thinking about something Jean Warner said on her blog. Jean's amazing blog helpfully directs us all to important matters regarding women's issues, especially those that effect the women of Oklahoma. I often wonder how she is so connected to what goes on in this state.

She recently shared that a female state politician is now blogging, and in that blog entry she mentioned that although many Oklahoma women blog, she would like to see more women bloggers include "value-added content" related to public policy, business and civic affairs.

Now why has this stuck in my brain? Is it because I'm highly, highly competitive and rarely met a challenge I didn't accept? I've often thought I should put more time, research and value into the content of my blog entries. So why don't I?

(I'm home early from work and I'm trying to blog and watch Oprah at the same time, so I'm a bit distracted. Celine Dion is on. I know folks often make her the butt of jokes, but she is just amazing. I admit it. I'm a fan.)

OK, so I was saying something about putting more thought into my blog posts. Umm...

I think I've determined the reason why I, in particular, do not get too serious on this here blog.

(OK, now Oprah and Celine are both bawling. How am I supposed to think with all that boohooing going on?)

Focus. What were we talking about? Don't you hate it when someone is supposed to be paying attention to you and their eyes keep drifting off to the side, watching the TV or people passing, or when they are texting while you're talking?

So - I really think I don't get all value-added because every waking moment of my life is spent adding value to something. My job at an Oklahoma non-profit is very demanding - every day filled with the juggling act that is directing a program that meets the oral health needs for some of the most under-served children in the state. And when I get home I'm teaching a course at a local university, something that takes a great deal of brain power and creativity. Keeping a room full of adult students interested and engaged for four straight hours is a daunting task. If I'm not teaching, I'm lending my body and brains to the renovation of this old house. Then there's the newest area where I'm hopefully adding value; Combining two households and three generations under one roof.

So when I get on my blog to share my thoughts, I automatically go to silly and frivolous. It's a great outlet - a place where, perhaps sadly, deep thinking is not required. Maybe some day, when the brain and body are less engaged in heavy-duty emotional, physical and mental work, I'll start another blog about best business practices for non-profits, or the plight of women in developing nations, or the blight of urban poverty, or how to stay married for 28 years and live to tell about it, or tips for being the only adult in your immediate family who is not blessed with Attention Deficit Disorder.

But for now (sigh) all I got is silly.

His voice is a part of my childhood

Paul Harvey died yesterday at the age of 90. For me his voice is eternally connected to my grandmother's house here in Oklahoma. My grandmother listened to the radio a good part of the day, often in hopes of winning that ever elusive big cash prize that a local radio station offered. Paul Harvey's voice reminds me of her perfectly fried chicken, fried okra, steaming, buttered mashed potatoes, and sweet tea.

Even as I child I was drawn to his distinctive voice. It held an unusual mix of warmth and authority. I would wait patiently through his news commentary-"Stand by for news"- liberally sprinkled with his personal product endorsements, to get to the best part; a short, chronological biography of a famous person. The identity could only be guessed until the end, when Mr. Harvey revealed the identity and finished with the iconic "and that's (pause for emphasis), the rest of the story."

And of course, he was an Oklahoma native, born in Tulsa. We're just made of good stuff here.

"Good Day!"

T.G.I.M.

I'm off today since I worked 14 hours on Saturday. I have a quiet Monday to myself to do whatever I want. For some reason on days like this I don't want to shower. It just seems like such a waste of time since no one is here to see or smell me. There are so many other fun things to take up the day. And who knows, I might exercise and get all sweaty, and then I'd just have to shower again. It's a slim chance, but a chance, and I certainly don't want to shower twice.

The nest is empty again with Tessa back at OSU. She's been kind of dragging around all week after having her wisdom teeth removed, but boy did she perk up when it came time to pack and head back to her sorority house. You've never seen laundry done so quickly and with such cheerfullness. As with everything in life, it's all about the motivation.

I spent some time over the weekend in rural Oklahoma and caught up on the local gossip discussed in the diner. One woman who used to weigh about 400 pounds got a lap band and now weighs 90 and is dying because it slipped, but doesn't want to have it taken out. A precious 7 year old boy is dying from a heart condition and he got his wish from the Make A Wish Foundation to go to a NASCAR race and see Dale Jr. Families who have been dirt poor all their lives are now getting rich from oil and gas wells drilled on their property and are busy buying up diamond rings, big houses and bigger trucks. You can make more money working a weekend at a cock fight than you make all week in your regular job.

Also, thought I'd share some Do's and Don'ts - a few things I've learned:

• Do take the time to enjoy the landscape and the space. A breathtaking sunset and a huge full moon are much easier to appreciate with nothing obstructing the view.
• Do wear camo to the local diner if it's hunting season and you don't want to stand out as that city woman.
• Do have lunch with the county sheriff. Too many reasons to list.
• Don't go to the local diner expecting to order their specialty fried catfish on Saturday because Friday night is all you can eat fried catfish night and there won't be any left.
• Don't order the calf fries unless you fully understand what you're getting and are in full agreement with eating cast offs from the castrating session at the local ranching operation.
• Don't discuss the local cock fights when you're eating lunch with the sheriff.

Electronics R Us

It was an electronic Christmas for me. Yay! My gifts included a mouse, laptop lap desk, and an iHome. Now I never have to leave my corner of the couch. It was a relatively balmy Christmas in Oklahoma - warm enough to take a walk with just a light jacket. At least that's what people appeared to be wearing when they walked past the window. I found it difficult to walk very fast while carrying a plate loaded with delicious food.

On Christmas Eve Mark found the last Wii in Oklahoma City. After 4-5 stops, he checked a Best Buy just in case, and there was one little Wii on the shelf. The UPS driver had discovered one case that had been missed the day before, so four lucky people got a Wii from that box, including us. Now we just need to find a Wii Fit so we can get, well, fit. Because that's going to do the trick where nothing else has!

• Doctors are now warning about "Wii-itis" or "Wii-knee", a repetitive motion injury.
• More than 1 million Wii units were sold in the US last week.
• Wii-habilitation, physical therapy using the Wii, is helping people recovering from orthopedic injuries, brain injuries or stroke.
• Wii games are showing up at unlikely places like local libraries, schools and senior centers.

Made in Oklahoma

The gauge on Mark's Fun-o-Meter was flickering near empty, so we took a day trip. The goal was to avoid all highways and drive through the Oklahoma countryside to Woods and Waters Winery outside Anadarko. Mission accomplished. It's a little surreal to encounter a man named Dale who speaks four languages, has traveled the world, and operates a winery with his Russian wife Lena in rural Oklahoma. But it looks like they've got a good thing going on their 600 acres. Twenty of them are planted with grapes. We had lunch while listening to two young men play classical guitar, then spent a few minutes under Dale's friendly tutelage learning about their locally-produced wines. We now know a little more about wines, but that's not saying much when our starting knowledge was pretty close to zero. We came home with a bottle of Rose of Caddo (it WAS grown in Caddo County after all), and a bottle of Fire Water, a white jalapeno wine. Yes, jalapeno. You can feel the burn.