The Mark of the Beast

Oklahoma decided that everybody gets new license plates this year instead of stickers. I didn't give it a whole lot of thought. The new plates are some sort of laminate plastic with a high tech film. They have replaced the Native American shield with a picture of an Indian Man shooting an arrow into the sky. (I think it is based on a sculpture in front of the Gilcrease Museum.)

But, as always, I need to get back on point. One of the best kept secrets in Tulsa is that there is a tag agent downtown. They don't have lines, they are nice instead of being rude and it is about 200 feet from my office building. So I was busily working, and putting off getting a tag, and a coworker came over and said that he had seen the weirdest thing at the tag office.

I had to ask what was weird and he said that they had a tag with "666" on it sitting on the counter. Nobody would take it. That fascinated me. Why would anybody care? I know that Hollywood portrays us Christians as loonies who beat wives and children, play with snakes, and recoil in horror at the three numbers. We all know that 666 is the mark of the beast, right?

We know all sorts of things. We know that during Barack Obama's campaign that you texted him at 62262 and his toll free number had 1-866-6 in it. So that shows he's evil right?

Well it turns out that phobia may be wrong. In fact it probably is wrong. More recent research based on more ancient texts of Revalation than were available before now show that the number of the beast is 616.

Oops. Somehow, 616 just doesn't have the same evil connotations as 666. I can see why the truth hasn't caught on. There is a lot of invested work in books, movies, sermons, anti-Obama web sites, and so on concerning 666.

Back to my story. After my friend told me about the tag, I popped up, grabbed my stuff and ran on over. I had to wait in a rare line of 4 people. I got to the front, and asked if they still had the 666 tag, because I didn't see it. Everybody in the office turned to look at me including those over in the driver's license line. The clerk asked, does your existing tag have 666 in it? I said no. Anyway to finish an overlong story I got my tag.

So leave me alone. Go find 616BOI and harrass him! He is the devil worshipper not me.

My World - Redbuds

This time of year, the state tree of Oklahoma, the redbud tree, blooms. They bloom before most other trees leaf out so it doubles the beauty.

For photographs of our world from all over click over to That's My World.

Monsters vs Aliens

Monsters vs Aliens

The family went to see Monsters vs Aliens 3D version Sunday. The movie is a lot of fun. I would definintely recommend the 3D version as the effects are incredible. The story? Who cares? The jokes and the action is non-stop. This is a kids movie that is fun for the parents also.

With the 3D I give this movie 3 stars out of 4. Without it? - You have to see the 3D.

Blue Herons and Snake Dogs

Looks like happy hour at the local bar and grill. Now I'm wondering. Where is the black box or red phone or whatever it is where he orders the missile launching? Is it under the table or has he lost it? Maybe he let one of the ladies in the picture have it. "Hey, you won't believe the stuff that happens if you press these two buttons together." Or does he give it to Joe Biden? Is Joe the designated missile launcher? Why is everybody so happy? Did he just got off the phone with the Ole Ball and Chain? "I'll be home when I'm home Michelle, jeez!" I wonder if he has any good jokes? Does he ever work? Where are the Secret Service guys? Maybe those are the secret service guys!

I have all these questions today. I need some answers.

I've been doing some more research into me and O's mutual hobby.

First up is Mendocino Brewing Company's Blue Heron Pale Ale. It is very good and drinkable. I liked it but it still doesnt' quite have the "bite" I'm looking for in a pale ale. Still I give it 3 stars out of 4. It's good, but I'm still looking for a great IPA.

Second is Flying Dog's Snake Dog India Pale Ale. This is a unique tasting brew. It doesn't quite have the bite but it has a very nice almost fruity taste to it that finishes out a little bitter (good bitter). I found it unique and would try it again. 3 stars out of 4.

Hey, anybody out there have any ideas about beer? Let me know. I'd like to try your recommendations, if I can get them.

Oklahoma has strange liquor laws which precludes the selection that other states have. When we travel out of state I feel like a kid in a candy store. My absolute favorite beer, that I can afford, is New Belgium Brewery's Fat Tire Amber Ale. Which I can buy all I want at a corner grocery store almost anywhere in the US but nowhere in Oklahoma, legally I mean!

Do you suppose the "Beer Drinker in Chief" would order the suspension of those laws? They inhibit interstate commerce which is illegal right? We could make it part of the stimulus package.

Jackman's American Pale Ale

I have to tell you, I was so inspired when I saw President Obama sipping on a brew. How long has it been? When did we last have a beer drining president? W? nah, when he was younger. Bill, no don't think so, W's Dad?, no don't think so either, Ron, no he supposedly didn't drink very much. Jimmy? nope, (his brother did though). To make a long story short, based on my intensive research ( I ran two Google searches), Obama may be the first beer drinking president.

The Presidents who were not teetotalers, drank the hard stuff, bourbon and coke (Lyndon Johnson), Gin and Tonic (Gerald Ford), Scotch and Brandy (Franklin Roosevelt), and so on.

You know, I'm wondering, doesn't it seem like teetotalers make lousy Presidents? Maybe not, but? Or maybe the drinkers make lousy Presidents?

No beer drinkers amongst them, as far as I could tell, nor effete wine sippers.

My favorite presidential drinking story is about Abraham Lincoln concerning General Ulysses S. Grant who supposedly drank prodigous amounts of whiskey. Somebody ratted him out and wanted to know what Lincoln was going to do about it. Honest Abe said that he wanted to find out what kind of whiskey it was so he could send a barrel of it to each of his other generals.

Sorry, I'm way off topic, I was talking about being inspired by the Commander in Chief. So I took advantage of the "pick 6" program at my local liquor store. You can buy 6 different beers individually and get a discount. This way, you can try unknown beers without buying a whole six pack. So I went and picked six different India Pale Ales ("IPAs"). IPA's are pretty bitter and have a great aroma. They use lots of hops and they are my favorite kind of beer.

The first one up is Left Hand Brewing Company's Jackman's American Pale Ale. It was a definite "OK" beer. It was pretty smooth and I enjoyed drinking it but it just didn't have that "bite" that left me wanting more.

A good solid 2.5 stars out of 4. Its ok, but there are better beers out there.

Skywatch Friday

Springtime in Oklahoma - Morning Sky

Spring has Sprung but

It is going to Snow this Weekend.

For great images of the sky from all over the world

click on over to Skywatch Friday.

Works for Me!

I'm thinking this guy might work out.

Basketball and Beer

A Great American Tradition

(photo from NY Times Online Edition)

Soaking Time for SuperPizzaBoy

SPB relaxing

Watery Wednesday - Riverwalk

San Antonio's Riverwalk

A great place to take a walk in the morning.

For other watery vistas from all over please visit Watery Wednesdays.

Bernsen Rehabilitation Center at Saint John's Hospital

Bernsen Rehabilitation Center is part of the Saint John's Health System in Tulsa. It is also one of the most amazing places I've ever seen.

What they do is take people who have had injuries, surgeries, strokes, heart attacks, broken bones and help them function in the community again.

The patients are the hardest working group of people I've ever seen. They are learning how to be independent. Physical Therapists and their assistants (PT's and PTA's in the lingo) teach their clients how to use a wheel chair, or how to walk with a walker, or just plain walk. They have their charges exercise to build up their strength. The work ethic is alive and well at Bernsen.

Occupational Therapists and their assistants (OT's and OTA's) teach how to dress and bathe themselves. They have kitchens set up to teach their charges how to cook safely while using a walker or other aids, load the dishwasher, and do the myriad things it takes to live independently in this world.

Recreational Therapists have the patients "play" games that demand the use of memory and recall and other skills.

There is a Social Worker that helps smooth the transition from the facility back to real life.

Every patient has an individual program just for them, overseen by a doctor. They work from dawn to dusk and they are exhausted at the end of the day. Its an inpatient facility so they take their meals together and get to learn about each other. During the day they cheerlead for each other, "Good going there, Mary! Look at you."

They staff really goes above and beyond to make the patients comfortable. They are also very family friendly. Need a knife to cut a cake for an impromptu birthday party? They'll get it, they'll also ask if you have everything you need. Not a whole lot of rules here. Families are encouraged to eat meals with patients, or bring their own meals. You can check the patients out for a little while and go sit outside in the parklike setting the facility sits on.

Just before graduation, the family has a training session where we learn how to get the patient in and out of a car, how to go up and down steps, things to look out for, and items we can get to make life a little easier. Then a group of patients, families, and staff load up and go to lunch as part of the training. Finally a graduation tshirt from the OT department.

In the dining room there is a small document displayed on the wall. It is a notice that Pope John Paul II gave a Papal Blessing to The Bernsen Rehabilitation Center. I'm not sure exactly what that means in the Catholic Faith but to me it is an acknowledgement that the Staff and Patients at the Center are doing God's Work, making people well again.

Long Walk to Eat Lunch

We had a real nice day in Tulsa last week. I was supposed to have lunch with Sweetie, SuperPizzaBoy, and Nana (My Mother-in-Law) at Saint John's Medical Center a couple miles from downtown where I work. I decided I was going to walk from my office downtown to lunch and bum a ride back with Sweetie. Worst case, I walk back.

So I headed out about an hour early. Below is a shot looking backwards to the building I work in.

A few blocks away is the old Chase Motor Bank. The "Midcentury Modern" fans in town swoon over this building. Used to be a motor bank, now its a combination parking lot, sometimes homeless hangout, and the site of one of my geocaches ("Boys Night Out - City Center"). I hate to see handsome old buildings go to ruin.

Went a few more blocks and cut across the back of the downtown Home Depot and come across this memorial done by the Home Depot employees in honor of a fellow deceased employee. I love stuff like this. You can tell this has been tended to and taken care of over time.

At the front of the Home Depot parking lot I took a shot of the tower from the old Warehouse Market. The tower was saved years ago when Home Depot came in. The tower was an art deco landmark in town and the store managed to save it. More details on a future post. Right now, I'm still going to lunch. Notice the redbud trees off to the right.

A little further on - more redbud trees. I love redbuds. They are a signature of Oklahoma . A few years ago we had a snow just at the peak of the redbud bloom. The redbud trees and snow were the prettiest thing I had seen in a long time. Unfortunately that was pre-blogging time for me and I didn't have the habit of carrying a camera everywhere I went.

Hooked up with my running route for a little while - the Centennial Trail. Tulsa has trails all over the place. I love'em.

Backwards glance toward downtown. Haven't got that far. Time to stop gawking and keep moving.

Cherry Street (aka 15th street). All sorts of interesting cafe's, shops, and stores here. Not very many stretches like this in the Oil City.

New building going up. Looks like post ugly faux facade modernism. It seemed to get approved without any publicity. Other buildings nearby take forever to get approved. What's the deal?

Bank building on Cherry Street built back in the 90's. Big fights at city council and zoning board over it. Many complaints over the 1960's style roofline and parking shades. Boy those citizens didn't know what they were talking about. That was mid century modern. So I guess this building is a neo or retro mid century modern? I don't know. My next door neighbor at the time was the architectural engineer on the project. He had no sense of humor about the criticism.

A glimpse of Swan Lake. Part of the what some in the city call the "midtown money belt" also includes Maple Ridge. Know how to make these folks simmer and swoon. Just say the words "street widening" or "halfway house". They are the folks that put the Not in NIMBY. They don't have much of a sense of humor either. Seriously, these folks live in a nice area of Tulsa and they want to keep it that way, I don't blame them for being so curmudgeonly.

Arrived for lunch about 10 minutes early, so it only took about 50 minutes of walking. Not bad. I figure out 2.25 to 2.50 miles or so.

Lunch was great, Sweetie gave me a ride back.

Starbucks, Sexy Sirens, and Queen Esther

What is up with Starbucks nowdays? Our household has been very busy the last week or so. We have been running here and running there, doing this that and whatever. To make a long story short, we didn't have any coffee in the house this morning. No problem, load the kid up and run to our local Starbucks. I'm going to get a venti size cup of coffee and a bag of beans to take home.

OK, I'll have a venti Sumatra and this bag of beans. Yes sir, oops, sorry sir, we're brewing that, how about Pike Place? uhh (I hate Pike Place, their new house blend, I don't know why, but I find it awful, but still) OK, give me a venti Pike Place. Ooops, sorry sir, we don't have any of that either, how about an americano?

(I hate their americanos. I love them elsewhere but Starbucks just doesn't get it.) So, no thanks, I'll just take the bag of beans. Ohh we're sorry sir! No problem. So I get the bag and come home and brew my own.

This type of exchange happens a lot these days when I go to Starbucks. They are invariably out of the coffee I want and either have to get the Pike Place or an americano. Come on folks, if you want to sell coffee, then keep it on hand.

And while I'm whining, I don't like their afternoon policy. Pike Place only for caffeinated. Uggh.

Enough whining. Lets talk about their logo. I generally like to have a visual on my posts so I googled for their logo. Wow, talk about a lot of hits. The history of their logo is very ineresting. The logo above is their latest version. Below is the older version.

Come to find out that the lady is not a mermaid but a siren. Sirens are those mythological creatures who lured sailors to their doom with promises of a good time. A siren is different from a mermaid in that sirens have split tails and mermaids have one. I know that you get the idea. Do I have to spell it out for you? Hope not.

An even earlier version of the logo is below. The siren is a lot less stylized, but "rounder", and in my opinion, much sexier.

I got most of this information from a post from the blog "Dead Programmer's Cafe."

Now, the Queen Esther part. Those Bible scholars among us (not including me) know that Queen Esther was the Queen of Jews in Persia way back when King Xerxes chose her among 7 beautiful virgins to be his Queen. It is quite the complicated story and it is all covered in the Book of Esther in the Old Testament. It turns out that many people in the Middle East including Muslims believe that the siren in the Starbucks logo is Queen Esther, a Jewish Queen, and the crown she wears is the crown of Persia. Muslims find this offensive. This rumor has caused Starbucks all sorts of grief in trying to get their business going in the area.

Of course, I'm not sure that the Muslims would appreciate the story about sirens either.

Disney's "Race to Witch Mountain"

Sweetie is in Southeast Oklahoma tending to business so SuperPizzaBoy and I went to see Race to Witch Mountain. A PG rated Disney movie.

The movie is about a Taxi Driver and two teenage aliens who save the earth by subverting the evil designs of our federal government hot on their trail plus an alienbot programmed to kill the kids. The movie is entertaining as far as it goes and is really not bad. I may have erred by taking SPB as he is only 10 and I think the target market may be more the 14 to 16 year old kids. There was lots of fighting, bombs, violence, etc but it didn't seem to bother SPB too much.

One thing that annoyed me is that the script included a few GD words. Their use was totally gratuitous and not necessary. I am not not a prude and for adult movies I prefer language to be appropriate and realistic to the settings so if the words are appropriate and natural to the scene then, by all means throw a few in. In a movie that kids are going to see, hold off a little bit!

Anyway, SPB and I enjoyed ourselves and the movie was well done for what it is. I give it 2.5 stars out of 4.

Skywatch Friday - Local Color

Sweetie and I attended the Tulsa Home and Garden Show last weekend at the County Fairgrounds. We got there at dusk so I snapped a photograph of the sunset.

It includes the Golden Driller. A Tulsa landmark for 40 years honoring the Oil Industry.

For photographs of the sky from all over the world check out Skywatch Friday.

Yogi Needs ...

I've been tagged by Baloney to participate in the "Needs" game. Its simple you type " needs" in the Google search box and see what the first ten items are.

So here's mine,

1. Yogi needs to do a few yoga poses in the most unlikely of places. ( Yogi needs to learn Yoga first maybe.)
2. Yogi needs to live a disciplined life. (No I don't)
3. Yogi needs a home for 4 days. (Till Sweetie calms down maybe?)
4. Yogi needs a fenced-in yard due to his lack of sight. (Yep, and I'm not housebroken either.)
5. Yogi needs to get started on the path to a healthy, happy life. (Yes, instead of the path to ruin, destruction, and despair that I'm currently on.)
6. Yogi needs to understand that we do not have to be DOING things all the time. (I already understand that, I'm very good at not doing things.)
7. Yogi needs only one word. (hmmm..... I got it "Beer")
8. Yogi needs a pair. (I totally agree.)
9. Yogi needs to properly align the body and stack the Spinal. (uhhhh ... I'm going to click on that link.)
10. Yogi needs a live action movie (I wonder if there is movie that shows how to stack spinals.)

I tried using my real name also but I like the results using Yogi better.

I'm supposed to tag several people but I'm not. If you are reading this and want to participate go ahead! Give us a link in the comments so we can see what yours are

Busting Moves in Alamo City

SuperPizzaBoy is liable to break out dancing anywhere. He doesn't do it very often but when he does he goes for it with abandon and he is not self conscious about it all. He says that he is "busting a few moves" when he does it.

We were on a trip a couple weeks ago walking down a city street at night. A couple guys were playing bagpipes at a bus stop and SPB just couldn't help himself. I'm sorry about the awful quality of the video and the fact that you have to watch it a 90 degree angle.

When is the Doctor Coming?

Our family has someone who is in the hospital recovering from surgery. They are doing as well as can be expected and we are hopeful that they will be out of there soon and on the way to recovery.

Hospitals have changed quite a bit over the years. The food has improved in quality and variety, the rooms are brightened up and decorated more, the attitude of the various staff especially the nurses has improved the greatest. The indifference that used to just kill me, has reduced over the years. Now you get chatted up by everybody from housekeeping to the doctors. All these changes have made much of the experience a little less unpleasant than what it used to be.

There is still a major problem with the way hospitals are run. The kingship and divine right of doctors to not be accountable to anyone for what they do or don't do especially as to when exactly they are going to show up and explain what is going on. They reserve the right to come early, late, or not at all. That coupled with their right to be the exclusive conduit for much critical information forces the patient's family and loved ones to keep a constant vigil so they don't miss out on their one opportunity that day to visit with the surgeon or doctor. If you miss him or her, or if they decide to not show up, then that's it. No second chance.

That's bad because the patient involved is often too groggy or sick to really ask the questions that need to be asked or provide critical information to the doctor or engage them about their decisions and explore alternatives in treatment, therapy, medication or whatever. And there is no second chance. You miss the doctor, you miss out.

The nurses are sympathetic and readily admit that this jealously guarded prerogative of doctors is exhausting to families. They say that the single most asked question they get from patients is "When is the Doctor Coming?" and they don't have a satisfactory answer and the best they can do is guess based on their knowledge of the doctors's habits. They see the resulting physical and mental exhaustion this practice causes to families but they can do nothing about it.

So, how about doctors making a schedule of their rounds and sticking to it? How about authorizing the nursing staff to inform families of what is going to happen. How about making use of all this whiz bang information technology they brag about to include the patient and the family.

My World - Casino Club

I love serendipity. It happened to me last week during a visit to dowtown San Antonio, Texas from my home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was walking around downtown and I saw a building with a muticolored top on it so I had to go investigate.

My photograph does not do the tiered roof justice. It really is very colorful and distinctive.

The building was called the "Casino Club Building" and was built in about 1927 to house the combined "Casino Association", a German American Social Club and "San Antonio Club", a literary club. The building has some Art Deco touches in the entrance in addition to the multicolored roof.

The Club did not survive the depression very well and the organization finally ceased operation in abut 1950.

The serendipity part happened when I got up close and read the historical plaque. It said the building was purchased by oilman Thomas Gilcrease in 1942. Thomas Gilcrease is the art collector who sold his extensive art collection to the City of Tulsa in 1955 that started the Gilcrease Museum which is famous for its collection of Western Art.

A little research showed that Mr. Gilcrease's first museum was started in 1943 in San Antonio but he closed it shortly thereafter because of low attendance. I couldn't determine if he used Casino Club building for the museum.

The building, which is right on the San Antonio Riverwalk was remodeled in 1978 for condos or apartments appears to be in excellent condition and well maintained.

To found out more about our world check out My World for photographs and stories from all over the world.

"The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb

This is one awesome book. It is a novel about Caelum Quirk and his wife Maureen who are an English teacher and school nurse respectively at Columbine High School in Colorado. Caelum is in Connecticut attending to a deceased aunt's affairs when Maureen is trapped in a cabinet during the Columbine murders. Maureen survives but is badly traumatized and her life slowly spins out of control as the years go by.

There is a a parallel story concerning the Caelum's ancestors and how their lives were messed up by the Civil War.

Through all this Caelum slowly finds out secrets about himself and his forbears. He also finds out love, steadfastness, and honor. And why he is so messed up.

I'm not really doing this book justice. This may be one of the best books I have ever read. Lets just say it is over 700 pages and I tore through it in five days.

This book is four stars out of four. Read it if you can.

"Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

SuperPizzaBoy and I just finished "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis. This is a great book that came well recommended. It is a Newberry Honor Book and has won several other awards.

The book is about a boy, Elijah, a free born black youth, who lives in Buxton, Canada just before the Civil War. Buxton is a settlement of former slaves who one way or another escaped slavery and made it over the border. The village is very close knit and values education, hard work, thrift, honor, and church.

The book is humorous in tone mostly but not everything is funny. Just over the border are slaves attempting to cross and slavers trying to intercept them and take them back to the south. It is serious business.

One of Elijah's adult friends, steals money from another freedman, and goes south to the US. Elijah follows him across the border to get it back and finds himself in a terrible predicament. He displays courage and honor in figuring out what he should do to resolve it.

This book is very compelling. Both SPB and I loved it and I recommend it highly. It does have complicated situations and I think that it would be most appropriate for 5th graders and higher.

I give this book four stars out of four.

Full Moon in San Antonio

We were on a family trip to San Antonio. SuperPizzaBoy was in the hotel pool the first evening there. The moon was out. Funny thing, it started out small and got bigger as the evening progressed.

Visit Skywatch Friday for hundreds of views of the sky from all over the world.

Alamo City Trip

Last week the family packed up and flew down to San Antonio for a little weekend trip in conjunction with a business trip.

We had a great time!

Of course, if you go there, you have to stay on the riverwalk and take a boat tour. We had a great tour guide. I'm sure that some of the stuff that he told us might even be true. It all made a great story.

There was a reenactment of the Battle of the Alamo going on. Sweetie got a photograph of Davy Crockett complete with coonskin cap. She was really looking for Phil Collins. You see the boat guide above told us that Phil Collins was in town and attending the reenactment. So we stalked Phil Collins all over town. Never saw him. Person at Hard Rock Cafe said "He was here last week." Hah!

We stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter. Great place to stay, right on the river. SuperPizzaBoy thought they had a great pool.

Sweetie is still looking for Phil. Sorry Sweetie, you are stuck with me. Yea, lucky you!

Action shot of me and SPB checking out the action on the river.

Metallica Guitar Hero Update

Click here to get the track list.

Sadly, the WII version won't be released until May.

Sweetie Done Gone and Left Me - Ran Off With My Only Son

Me, Sweetie, and SuperPizzaBoy were down here in San Antonio since last Friday. Today, Sweetie and SPB done packed up their stuff and left me and headed back to Tulsa. Oh, woe is me.

I consoled myself by finding five geocaches. Two right on the riverwalk. (Another post coming up).

Then I went to the hospitality suites. You see I'm at the annual Gas Processors Convention, this year in San Antonio. They are kind of like the Grammys but for natural gas. Well kind of anyway. We don't have quite the television ratings the Grammy's have but may be next year.

The GPA Convention hospitality suites are fun!? Food is free and so is the drink.

I didn't see too many people I know. I was on my own. My basic problem (I know, I have many basic problems, but this is my blog, so let me finish, pleeeease) is that I'm a business guy at a techie convention. I go to see what our competitors are up to plus get them ever important pdh certificates ("professional development hours") needed to maintain my Professional Engineers certification.

So, anyway, without Sweetie, I had to negotiate the hospitality suites on my own. They all have these big expensive billboards out front that scare me half to death, like the following:

Do you know what they are talking about? Let me know, because I don't. I'm just looking for something to eat and drink.

What about the following:

Jeez, power my engineering calculations? How about a decent red wine so I can think about it! Also, you know something. 1970's disco sucked back then and has only gotten worse. Do something different. Cut back on the dj budget and increase the food budget! Yea, now we are talking!

But, around the corner, in the "less choice spot, I saw this sign. Belgian Beer.! Wow! Check it out.


Three types of Belgian Beer. No Chimay Triple Bec but I had a wonderful Hoegaarden. Fragrance of peaches, apple, and caramel. Had to listen to a presentation by the the beer rep before I got the beer. Yep, I know that Belgian beers each have their own glass so that is why I can't leave the room with the glass. You don't understand. I'm staying here until you throw me out. I'm sold, Give me the beer, please! Finally. (Note to people who want to get into sales, when the customer says OK, then what you should do is SHUT UP! Got it, he or she is already sold, QUIT TALKING! and start making them glad that they went with you.

I'll tell you, next time you are looking at overhauling or replacing your turboexpander I recommend you call L.A. Turbine. I don't know if they are any good or not but they serve good beer.

What' Your Style?

In my line of work I have to be able to get my point across both to my fellow employees and to our customers. Its a very long term relationship business and we have make sure that both we and the customer know what we are getting into. So I have developed a pretty direct communication style. It seems to work for me. What works for you? Let us know!

You Communicate Passionately

You speak from the heart. You can't separate your feelings from what you're saying, even in a professional context. You tend to speak dramatically, with lots of passion and emotion. It's easy for you to get swept up in what you're saying. You like to connect with people early on so that you can personalize what you are saying to them. When you converse, you try to find common ground and harmony. Even if you disagree with someone, you try to emphasize where you agree.

What Kind of Communicator Are You?

What Kind of Girl Scout Cookie Are You?

You Are Peanut Butter Sandwiches / Do-si-dos

You are easy going and naturally happy. You don't need a lot to make you smile. You genuinely care about people and are a great friend. You're always doing your best to make the world a better place. Even though there isn't an immature bone in your body, you still are like a big kid sometimes. Why make life complicated when the best parts are actually quite simple? You enjoy the small joys of life.

What Girl Scout Cookie Are You?

It made it all well worth it!

The Yogi family belongs to a big Megachurch. We love it there and have got to know a lot of people and find the whole experience rewarding.

One of the things that though is that they are always short of volunteers for the Children's Sunday Schools. I understand why. We got a little burned out as we taught together in SuperPizzaBoy's classes for several years. We got burnt out so we quit for a while.

Sweetie started teaching again late last year in the four year old class. She ended up being the only adult though in a whole room full of healthy rambunctious kids. I volunteered to help out.

Last Sunday was my first duty. It was fun. Sweetie was the boss so I just got to play with the kids. I played legos with the boys at the lego table, I played duck duck goose with the girls. I helped shepherd them down and back from the big group room. Got to hold some hands doing that.

Back to the four year old's room Sweetie led the lesson and I tried kept the boys focused. Then the snack. I got to help pass out the mix. Some kids liked marshmellows, others goldfish, others pretzels. I had a bunch of demanding customers. They kept me hopping pretty good!

I did get a tip though. One little girl said come here, hugged my neck with her little arms, and said "you smell beautiful." I'm not sure what she meant, I don't wear any cologne but I do bathe at least once every spring, but it made my day!

Skywatch Friday - from the Office

From my office window.

For other views of the sky check out Skywatch Friday!

"Runner" by Thomas Perry

I am a Thomas Perry fan and have enjoyed his books but I just couldn't get into this book. This was my first Jane whitefield book of his and Jane and I never quite hit it off. The action seemed perfunctory, the suspense wasn't there. I didn't feel anything about the characters at all.

I rate this book 1.5 stars out of 4.

Gretel is Cute, but Hansel is Hot!

The Tulsa Opera brought a twenty minute version of "Hansel and Gretel" to SuperPizzaBoy's school last week. SPB's class participated as the chorus. They played children (that role came natural to them), then as gingerbread cookies, and back to children. The kids loved it and did a great job. They have been practicing for some time.

Gretel was a soprano, Hansel was played by a woman mezzo soprano. The Opera Company brought four singers and a piano player. They barnstorm all over eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas putting short versions of popular operas on for school kids. They do a great job.

SuperPizzaBoy afterwards
Guess, what. I found a cache on my way back to the office. "Where the deer and the antelope run", number 753 for me.

Brutalism in Tulsa, OK

I have to apologize for this post. I know that the implied requirement is to show "nice" things. I think I've done that with some of my earlier posts with photos of old trains and art deco buildings. Tulsa has a bunch of beautiful buildings, many art deco, many of other styles but on the west end of downtown sits a collection of butt ugly buildings.

I come to find out that these butt ugly buildings are of a style called "Brutalism" from the French "Breton Brut" which means raw concrete. It is a style of architecture which is supposed to be true to the materials of which the building is constructed. Most of the time that is concrete. The style was started by a French guy named Corbusier. Many college campuses have lots of Brutalist Buildings. I knew that they were ugly. I just didn't know that ugly had its own name.

The architecture is certainly true to its material with no decoration but it is ugly. The buildings in Tulsa that I am referring is a complex of the City County Library, old City Hall, Police Headquarters, and the Civic Arena. They are all grouped together and share one of those wide expanses of concrete which is supposed to be a plaza but is brutally cold or hot, depending on the season, but always windswept.

Civic Arena - Nice on the inside, Ugly on the outside. Being remodeled to a convention center with lots of meeting rooms.

Tulsa Police Headquarters

Slightly used vacant City Hall - Asking price about $1 million. Will probably have to be demolished.

Library - cramped outmoded. I love what's inside but we need a new one. It will be a long time though.

For learning about other parts of the world we share check out That's My World.