The Sky is Cracking, the Sky is Cracking!!

I am no chicken little but I was getting a little concerned during my morning run the other day.



The sky wasn't falling but it was definitely cracking.

Skywatch Friday

Watery Wednesday

I don't know about where you live but here in Tulsa it was 106F yesterday. So I'm taking my watery photographs inside this week.

Watery Wednesday

I'm good to go

All I need is a post.

Apologies

I'm going through a blogger experience right now. My apologies. Things will be better soon.

Where Does a Twenty pound Maine Coon Sleep?

Wherever she wants at our house.

Camera Critters

Downtown Reflections

I'm still learning how to use my new Takashi Digital FX 521 Camera. It can take photographs using different effects in the camera rather than with software later.

The building where I work



Again with the blue tint.



I like the negative effect the best:



Weekend Reflections

I haven't quite figured out how to control the "folded up" appearance seen in the first and last photographs on the lower right hand side. That is a feature of the camera that appears because it is so low tech and backwards in its technology. I'd love to be able to figure out how to do it on purpose.

Western Oklahoma Road Trip

(Drilling rig drilling a horizontal well into the Cana Woodford Shale formation.)

I had a meeting in western Oklahoma on Wednesday. I love driving out there. The sky just opens up and expands and so does my outlook on life.


(Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant under construction.) (sorry about the splotch)

It was a nice dry, not too hot day. Just beautiful.



There were reminders though of why so many people have storm shelters. This area saw a tornado come through just a few weeks ago.



There was lots of damage to houses and buildings and several people perished.



The dry weather is nice, but can lead to grass fires.

I have always thought of western Oklahoma as the beauty and the beast kind of thing. It is beautiful but it can bite hard.

Skywatch Friday

Lomographic Triple Trampolining with my Diana Mini

What is Lomography?

What is the Diana Mini?

Wordless Wednesday

My new Takashi 521 FX Camera

I got some money for my birthday a while back so I used it to by a new camera. It is a Takashi 521 Digital FX.  It is digital camera that simulates an analog camera. It has several built in modes. One can take pics in a "normal" mode and also black and white, sepia, negative, and various color tints. So its a fun camera to play around with. I'm still working with it and these are some of my first pics.



As you can tell it is fairly low tech but I think that I'm going to like the old timey feel of the pics.



Have I taken leave of my senses? Probably! I'll still be using my high tech digital cameras and my low tech Diana Mini film camera. The Takashi will be another tool in the bag so to speak.

Turkey Mountain Trail Run

Last Tuesday I went on a run on Turkey Mountain. I was going to run with a group, the TATUR running group, but I was a little late. I actually saw them take off while I was still in my car but it took me a few minutes to make sure that I had all my stuff together and they left. I wasn't too worried about it though. If I caught up with him them, great, if I didn't, I'd still have a great time. I run Turkey Mountain in the summertime to beat the heat of the concrete trails and to get my head on straight.



I like to stop and take pictures. Turkey Mountain has a bunch of pretty good sized ponds.



Sometimes you can spot things. Like somebody using a battery to illegally shock fish. Turns the sport of fishing into catching.



When I lived in Texas close to a lake I knew several people who unashamedly would use such devices. Game laws to them were just a means to make sure that the suckers among us left plenty of fish and game for them.



The mountain bikers flew past me. The TATUR's passed me on their way in. I could have turned around and gone with them but I wasn't ready to quit. I was rewarded a little later with this sight.



I've seen lots of deer on Turkey Mountain. This one is the only one with the manners to wait while I got my camera out and ready. I have seen three fox on the Arkansas River trail, they seem to know when I don't take my camera with me. Mannerly wildlife are always appreciated.



I passed through an area that burned last year. I don't think it took many trees but it sure cleared out the brush and opened things up.



I got up to the top of the hill and had a good look at downtown to the north. To the south though, where I parked I had a ways to go. See the notch on the left side of the road? About where the car is on the road? That is where I parked.



Here is a closer look.



That is a long ways away. I made it though. I considered going down the highway or the adjoining power line right of way but I didn't. I went down via a trail. Everybody was packed about and about to go. When you are a slow runner like me and take lots of pics, that happens a lot.



One last pic though and time to head home.

I had my handy dandy Garmin running watch with me and heart rate monitor so this is the fully documented route.



That's My World Tuesday

Happy Father's Day Gramps

Dad and his grandson, SuperPizzaBoy in Idaho last year.



I think that this is his high school graduation pic.



He and his roommate pretending to study. I like the Vargas print on the wall. I don't know whose teddy bear that is.

Happy Father's Day Gramps!

Challenged Rider Lead Line Event at the Pinto World Championships

The 2011 Pinto World Championships are being held in Tulsa this year. It consists of over 450  events and has over 7000 entries. It is really a big deal for the Tulsa economy.


(Do you think this kid is an Okie?)

This year SuperPizzaBoy participated in the event called "Challenged Rider Lead Line" at the show. It is for riders who have special needs and participate in a Therapeutic Riding program. SPB has been riding with the Bit by Bit program based out of Rogers State University.

We were very proud and appreciative that SPB was selected to be one of the riders. We were there with our video camera.



The riders rode into the arena one by one. Each horse is led and in addition there are two sidewalkers. There is a big emphasis on safety. The lead and sidewalkers are all volunteers. They are very dedicated. They have to be as during a 30 minute therapy session they get a pretty good workout going around and around the arena with the riders.

We got a big thrill when SPB came around to our side of the arena.



We had moved from where we were sitting and you can tell that he was looking for us. When he saw Sweetie he broke into a huge grin.

The finished their circuit and lined up. The judges went from rider to rider chatting them up a little bit. The announcer gave a little bio for each rider.



The judges talked to every one of the 15 or 16 riders and then conferred.



Everybody was trying to figure out what they were conferring about.



They decided to award all the riders a World Championship Belt Buckle.



The horses that the kids rode and the belt buckles were provided by Ford Farms of Whitesboro, Texas.



The judges and one of the owners went to each of the riders and gave them their belt buckles.



And then the riders left out of the arena.

Many thanks to the staff and volunteers of Bit by Bit, the Pinto Horse Association of America, Ford Farms, and the Judges. We are very grateful for the experience they provided our son and the other kids who participated. We appreciate you very much.

Construction Skywatch

One of the churches in downtown Tulsa is expanding.



They have two cranes on site. I'm the chief sidewalk inspector. I love construction and cranes and stuff like that. Here is what they are working on.



Somehow, it looks like they are building the new addition up in the air.



But they are not!

Skywatch Friday

Queens of Detail - with a lady's touch

Downtown Tulsa

Sign, Signs

Ruby Tuesday - Picnic Table

Ruby Tuesday

Boots, BBQ, and Boogie at Cain's Ballroom

The preparations have been going on for some time.

The Yogi's, Nana, and a few friends went to the Boots, BBQ, and Boogie fund raiser for Bit by Bit at Cain's Ballroom. The legendary music hall just north of downtown Tulsa.

They had a hard core Country Western Band for the Boogie part, and the dancing part. That's where the boots come in you know.



The place just drips history,



Many names from the distant past played there.



The music is loud!!!



Country Music isn't my favorite but I'm still of the "If it is too loud, then you are too old." school. No offense!



Nice, uh, t shirts for sale.



As you can tell, everybody had a good time.

My World Tuesday