Secret Santa 2010 - The Crusty Gas Guy Way

One of my favorite bloggers of all time, Georgie, of Decisionally Challenged. sponsors a Secret Santa gift exchange. This is my second year to participate. It intimidates me. I mean these women in the exchange are great. They pick out the perfect gifts for each other and ooah and ahh all over them. I lucked out last year, I drew Baloney over at That's Baloney. Baloney is another one of my favorite bloggers and I know her personally. She is funny, smart, sassy and keeps it real and is a good sport. So I didn't have to worry about somebody who wanted soaps and sachets and bathing powders and all that other stuff. Or you know she might have wanted all that but that isn't what she got.

So this year I signed up again and got scared again. Oh what am I going to do?  Then it hit me. Why should I be the one that is scared? Let the recipient be scared. So here is what I did. Before Georgie let me know who I was the Secret Santa for, I would go out and buy the stuff. Then all I would have to do is send the stuff. And then be sure to look around corners and behind my back for a time.

Now I know that I would risk getting kicked out of the exchange, because you know Georgie runs a tight ship on this affair. But I thought it would be worth the risk.

But you know I would have to keep the demographic in mind. I mean I didn't want to alienate everybody while I was off being me. The main demographic is that all but two of the participants are women. In other words, there is me, and one other guy. Hmmm. Oh well, so off I went.



Are these not nice, a great tee shirt and a cap. I sized the t shirt such that it would fit most of the demographic. The hat should fit anybody also. I mean its not pink, yellow, or purple but they are pretty nice. I mean the way I figure it if they don't like them they can give them to their husband, or their boyfriends, or the plumber. I mean, they have options. And if its a guy that receives this package. Well, he just wears it.

That wasn't too bad is it?

And that is not all. I also got this.



Pretty good uh? Something is missing, oh yeah, I also got some popcorn to go along with the seasoning.



Isn't that cool? Popcorn, but not just any popcorn but gasless popcorn. I mean keeping the demographic in mind I didn't want anybody, especially a nice lady, because Georgie only attracts the higher class of ladies, getting embarrassed by eating the gift. Its not very ladylike to be tooting while watching White Christmas. I think it kind of ruins the mood. Don't you agree?

I got some scientific data to back me up from the Good Book.



I can tell you that it is easier and much more convenient to take care of gas beforehand that afterward. Don't believe me, take a look at this page from the Good Book.



Notice the heading at the top of the page. For those of you who don't have your glasses on it says "Tail Gas Clean Up Processes." Yup, modern science and engineering has the answer to almost anything under the sun. I mean we still haven't figured out why people still take Rush Limbaugh seriously but we can clean up tail gas if you have enough money.

So anyways, when I got the email from Georgie about who the victim recipient was, and their likes and preferences and such. I didn't even look. I just pulled the address and packed my stuff up and went off to the Post Office. It went out Monday so I guess that maybe today or maybe even tomorrow some lucky recipient will be receiving their Secret Santa gift, and the rest of you will just have to be jealous.

My World - Nature Conservancy Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Last week I took my father and brother out to the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We saw lots of bison and big sky.



This has got to be the closest place to bison heaven on earth. Lots of grass, water, and room to roam.



There were bison close and far, lots of them. I think the herd is about 2000 head or so.





The place is for the bison. There is a ranch headquarters but it is mainly a bunkhouse, offices, and a visitor center with irregular hours. Notice my dad checking to see if anybody was home.





Lots of grass to eat. The preserve staff uses controlled burns extensively to keep the grass healthy.



The bison coexist with oil and gas production operations with apparently no ill effects on the animals.



There are no gates or toll boxes on the Preserve. The allowed roads are all county roads and its all open range, no hours, no fees, no nothing. Just use your common sense is all they ask. Bison can be dangerous so keep your distance, stay on the roads, and don't pester the critters. Oh, bring your camera.

Check out My World for other views of the world we share.

Do Y'all Remember Nana's Birthday

Do y'all remember that time when Sweetie was trying to figure out what to do for her mother's birthday? Do you.



She couldn't figure out what to do until she fueled her imagination with a tiny bit of liquid inspiration.



I remember what she said, Oh I about died, it was perfect, it was brilliant. Do you remember what I said to her? Do ya? Huh? Yeah, I'm not repeating it. I told her that she didn't have .... if she didn't do it. You remember that? I double dog dared her is what I did. She's a genius Sweetie is. I'll tell you that much.

Oh yeah, Nana should have known something was up! Yeah she should have but she didn't. Do ya remember that it was only noon and we popped open some bubbly? Do ya?



Didn't you love this sight. Nana sipping on a little bubbly. I hadn't seen her sip anything in years. You could tell she was a little nervous. She didn't know where we were taking her. Do ya remember that? Do you remember what Sweetie told her? It was great, Sweetie told that she had it under control. Oh, I about rolled, it was great.



And then do you remember when Travis showed up? Oh Nana didn't know what to think about guy showing with balloons saying Happy Birthday. Didn't she, huh? She was nervous. I think she thought he was from Chippendales. Yeah, she didn't know what was going on. I laughed so hard. Look at Sweetie, she about died.



Sweetie hired a limo for the afternoon. Isn't that wild. That's not something the Yogi's do. That's why I had to double dog dare her. A double dog dare has to be answered.

Do you remember the ride, wasn't it wild.

There is me and Sweetie. She's into it. We're having a party. Notice Shannon in the background stealing a sip. Hey its sparkling cider! Yeah, you believe it, we are in a limo drinking sparkling cider?



Speaking of Shannon, wasn't she just the best. That lady was crazy. Remember what she said about those pinpoint lights above her? Oh, it was great, I'm not repeating it. She was crazy, she was fun.



And Nana, the star, getting into it flanked by brother Bob, and Donna. You can tell Nana is getting into it already. Yeah, you remember that? One minute in the limo she acts like she has been riding limos all her life. I laughed so hard. That's Nana, she's irrepressible. You gotta move fast if you want to stay ahead of her.



And Patty and SPB. That Patty, she's quiet but she is always in the thick of things. She's game for anything. And who gave SPB a camera? That kid is crazy. He was out of control. Hey kid, let Dad see what you are taking picture of.



Where'd we go? Travis took us to the Philbrook Museum for lunch. You see mother and daughter? I was still laughing, Nana is happy and Sweetie is happy that Nana is happy. And I was happy that, well you get the picture.



Afterwards we toured the museum. Do you remember what that crazy Superpizzaboy was doing? Do you? Do you remember when he got busted by his mother taking pictures of the naked ladies? He about died he did. Look at his face. I about busted a gut. He is is so 12 years old. Waving at Santa Claus one minute, taking pictures of naked ladies the next.



Travis was cool, he took us on a tour of Utica Park before we went home. Here is a pic of the birthday crew.



Happy Birthday Nana! Hey Sweetie, what are we doing next year?

Chicken Fried Steak - the Pioneer Woman Way

We Okies are very proud of Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman. Go check out her fabulous blog. She also has a cookbook. It is not very low fat but it is good. Just ask Bobby Flay who got his butt kicked in his good natured Thanksgiving dinner throwdown with Ms. Drummond (see link at bottom of post.)

My dad, Gramps, visited us over Thanksgiving. His favorite dish is chicken fried steak. So Sweetie decided that she was going to make Gramps an Okie style CFS dinner with all the trimmings.

So we got the cookbook out.



Sweetie got her game face on. Notice the glass of wine she didn't quite hide. I really don't think that PW would disapprove. Hey coking has to be fun.



Sweetie started with her own dishes. Mashed potatoes and purple hull peas.



I even got recruited.



I'm usually in charge of anything involving cast iron.



Sweetie took over though on the gravy. Lots of whisking involved there.



Ya gotta get the gravy right. Sweetie did a great job.



The end result. Its like, cmon Yogi, lets eat!! Gramps looks pretty happy with the result.

Related articles

• "Pioneer Woman Takes Down Bobby Flay + Her Recipe" and related posts (manicmommies.com)

Skywatch Friday - Happy Thanksgiving

My brother Bob and dad, Gramps, are visiting so I took them to the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass Praire Preserve which is only about 75 miles or so from Tulsa. We saw lots of big sky and bison that day.

I wish everybody a great Thanksgiving today.

Miller Time!!

Bison getting a drink at the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass Praire Preserve near Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Check out Watery Wednesday.

Black Friday - My Plans

The ladies over at the Real Housewives of Oklahoma want to know what our plans are for Black Friday.

I don't know for sure where I am going to be but I can assure you that it is not going to be shopping.

I'm going to be here:



or here even!



Or maybe with my Sweetie, sharing one of these,



So when you are out there fighting your fellow humans for parking and bargains, be sure and remember me, because I'm planning on a great Black Friday.

Where in the World is Brother Bob?

Here in Tulsa we had the Route 66 Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday. I didn't run it. I hadn't trained for it so like W's dad H says "it wouldn't be prudent" to run it. My brother Bob did. I wanted to see him off but we didn't drive over together, I told him, "I'll find ya."

Ya right.

I got to Veteran's Park, the starting point, and it was wall to wall people.



(I don't see Brother Bob, do you?)

He was meeting some of his friends from California and I wanted to meet them. Oh well.



Next time I'm going to see if he'll carry the Canadian flag, at least until the start. That'll make it easy to find him. Right? So I thought that I would just watch the start.

When the motorcycle cops turn on the lights it means that the race is starting.



and here they came



Brother Bob is not in this picture either. I don't think.

I did catch a glimpse of him actually but it was too late to get a photo.

I decided to walk over to Woodward Park. Get in front of him and get an action photo.

I found this guy.



Nope he isn't Bob either. But look there are runners in this park.





Now there is a guy carrying the American flag. But its not Bob. You know something the guy is wearing an Arkansas t shirt. Some people are all worried about Obama not being an American citizen and all. You know something though, I worry about people who call hogs during a football game. Can they be real Americans? I don't know, you tell me.



Here is my friend Darrell. He is a very cool guy. He hadn't seen Bob either.



No that's not Bob either. She is definitely better looking though. No offense Bob.

The Great Spirit hadn't seen Bob either. Of course, I don't think he really knew what Bob looked like.



So I walked back to Veterans Park. You know I thought about entering the race and walking. I've walked 14 to 15 miles geocaching before. I walked several miles looking for Bob.



Yeah well the crowd hadn't thinned out. Oh well. Hey look a car show. I went and checked them out.



(I love car shows.)

I found a couple examples of really bad ideas in running clothing.



Hey wait a minute!



Hey Bob!!



It's him!

Two hours, 15 minutes. Way to go Bob!! Where the heck have you been anyway.