White Christmas

This is my first white Christmas. I never need to see another one — I think I’m set for life.

All the interstates in Oklahoma City had shut down by this evening, and Tulsa wasn’t far behind. Fortunately, my route was open.

We had early deadlines tonight and were out by 8:30. After a couple of very helpful co-workers shoveled a path for me, I was able to get my car out and onto the road.

I rolled home, encountering whiteout conditions on the highway and saw as many cars turned the wrong way on the highway as the right way.

It was probably not the best choice, but by God I was not going to get stranded downtown on Christmas Eve!

I think I’m done tempting fate. My little car has always gotten me through wintry weather, but I think I’ll take the hotel option if this ever happens again.

Forget the presents under the tree. The best gift is that I got home in one piece. It’s a miracle.

I’m heartbroken for my stranded co-workers with kids. I would be unbelievably upset if I couldn’t be at home to play Santa on Christmas. But it could be a blessing in disguise. Better to be safe than out on these treacherous roads.

Here are some pics I took of the truly frightful weather after I got home. Twenty-one degrees, wind chill of 7, northwest winds gusting to 31 mph.

I'm pretty sure our house is there somewhere

No flash this time. Much better.

Wreath

Front door

My patio chairs totally trump the ones on CNN's homepage.

I tried to open the back door to take more pictures of the back yard, but snow was piled up against it and I couldn’t get out.

Hope everyone is safe out there tonight and tomorrow. Have a blessed Christmas.

Family fun

After a long Christmas nap, I find myself awake at a weird hour (5 a.m.). What better way to pass the time than reminisce about the previous day.

Saturday was spent with my dad’s side of the family. All my aunts and uncles were there, which is definitely a rarity. The photo op alone left us all in stitches. I bet the pictures of them crying with laughter are just as good as the one where finally they were all still and smiling.

The day was filled with “y’all”s and “bless your heart”s and talk of the Cowboys and Longhorns and plates of fabulous food, just the way I like it.

Don’t get me wrong – I adore my husband’s polite Midwestern family (their Thanksgiving is always so warm, friendly and relaxed), but there’s just something about a Southern gathering.

All told, it was a lot of fun. Belly laughs, bear hugs, picture-taking, story-telling and second and third helpings of food really made it great. And since four people there had December birthdays, my mom brought red velvet cake and numbered candles, which supposedly added up to their combined age. (At only 226, it appeared the math had been fudged by a decade or two.)

My aunt had the house decorated to the hilt for Christmas. It really was festive and beautiful, and we all appreciated the roaring fire.

Basically, we just spent the day hanging out and catching up, talking about our jobs and speculating on who would win the Heisman that night. Some of us went to go see the lights display at Rhema Bible College, and it did not disappoint. I’ll post pics later.

The traffic was horrendous, but we got a great parking place and seemed to beat the real rush and got some cute pictures. My cousin wore her burnt orange jacket and I feared for her life, but it was all good. The weather was just OK; I could have done without the mist.

Hopefully we can get back to gathering every year, like we did when my sister and I were growing up. Tulsa might not be the most convenient place for all the Texans, but it sure works for me.

Rhema Bible College Christmas lights display

Glowing trees!

Tunnel of lights

Pond and fountain

Horses!

So many lights

My sister and I

Looking back at the U2 concert: With pics!

OK. Time to play serious blog catch-up as I relive U2 in concert via the live webcast on YouTube…

First things first

My husband and I went down to Arlington to see U2 at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium last week with my mom and sister. In short, it was amazing.

We went because my mom is a longtime U2 fan, and I don’t think she would have wanted to go by herself. Our seats were nosebleed, and once we found them, the song “Vertigo” came to mind.

The crazy-looking stage was sweet. Moving bridges, the honeycomb videoboard, lighting up…

Muse

The opening act in Arlington was Muse, who incredibly I’d never heard of. They were a fitting opener, kind of like a Radiohead/Queen hybrid. Let’s just say my iPod is stocked with some good Muse now.

Fandom

I have said before that I’m not a big fan, but it’s not because I don’t like U2. “Beautiful Day” is a sentimental favorite though. (It’s what we walked back down the aisle to at our wedding.)

It’s just that I had never felt the need to dig deeper beyond the tried-and-true radio hits before. But the more I listen to and watch this live webcast, the more I appreciate the band. iTunes is open and on the U2 page, ready for me to comb when I finish this blog.

Man, the big expandable video board is amazing. Search YouTube for “The Unforgettable Fire,” not just for the song but for that impressive structure.

What’s he saying down there?

Also, the more I listen, the more I realize I should not have been as forgiving for Cowboys Stadium’s awful acoustics. I think that might have played a big part in feeling more “into” the performance, if I’d been able to better understand the songs I didn’t recognize right away.

The acoustics were so bad up on the fourth level it was a little hard to decipher what Bono was saying about a Burmese political prisoner and African poverty and hunger. Watching the webcast, I’m getting a lot better feel for what’s going on.

It’s kind of like the difference between going to a game and watching it on TV at home, I suppose. It’s great being there in person, but you can’t beat TV angles and closeups. And crystal clear sound. Even makes me feel a tad guilty for not comprehending the band’s messages the first time.

Pictures

It also helps when you’re not distracted taking pictures. I took over 300, I think. Don’t worry, I only used the flash on a couple of them, I’m not a total jerk.

Here’s some of the best ones. As always, click to zoom. You won’t be disappointed.

Closeup of stage early in show

Awesome videoboard, in its expanded state

"Sunday Bloody Sunday"

Interacting with fans

Bono is on the speakers.

Cell phones ablaze during "Moment of Surrender". Definitely worth a click and zoom.

A nice group shot, sans Larry

This one cracks me up!

Pretty colors!

Saving one of the best pics for last.

Overall, we all had an awesome time. Definitely the best concert I’ve ever been to (Sorry, “new” Journey).

I always like discovering songs and bands, and it made for a great memory. U2 could have played for three more hours and no one would have left their seat, I’m sure of it.

They are playing “Where the Streets Have No Name” … It’s simply epic.

P.S. U2′s YouTube channel has over 39 million hits. When I started writing this blog, they were at 17 million. That’s 20 million-plus in a few hours. Wow.

Rangers pics

My dad and his friend, Ken, recently scored some prime seats at a Ranger game. Ken is a photographer, and he took some great photos.

Here’s a link to his Picasa gallery. It was Jackie Robinson night, so everyone was wearing No. 42, which is a little confusing. He got some good ones of Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Marlon Byrd and Josh Hamilton… I think.

There are also a couple of Nolan Ryan, who was sitting only a few rows away. (I mentioned they were great seats, right?) He looked kind of grumpy, so they must have been taken before the Rangers exploded for 19 runs in the win over the Orioles.

Wish they could have found some of that offense this weekend. They’re on the verge of getting swept by the Royals. Kansas City looks better than it has in the past, but still. It’s the Royals.

Fires and ice

Interesting weather across the state today. Wildfires are raging in the central and western parts of Oklahoma, and severe storms are producing hail across the east.

News reports say Interstate 35 is shut down near the Stillwater exit, and parts of Highway 51 are closed. Homes have been destroyed, but the out-of-control fires are only 15 miles from Stillwater. You can even see the smoke on Doppler radar, which is kind of awesome and terribly sad, because you know people’s lives and homes are at stake.

From 4:15 to 5 p.m. today, I had some good opportunities for pictures.

Here’s some in chronological order. As always, they look best (and real big) when you click on them.

Lookin’ a little green outside.

Ragged, low clouds scare me.

It’s actually pouring in these pics, but you have to click to see it.

Nice rainbow!

Look at the puddle. Marble-sized hail is making those plunks.

Sunny and rainy creeps me out.

It got real dark this afternoon, but it’s sunny now. All the “good” stuff is east or south. But channel 6 does have some awesome video of some rotation right now.

I have things I need to be doing today, but I always enjoy listening to Travis Meyer talk about circulation features, tornado indexes and lowerings. There was a scary time when the satellite was getting scrambly and they were talking about rotation in Jenks.

The red circles are fires.

Update: You can smell the smoke outside. I think those fires are still near Oklahoma City, about 100 miles away.

Blizzard ’09

It was 80 degrees last week, right? I didn’t dream that, did I?

I have a feeling I will need to leave for work a little earlier than usual.

Dairy Queen should sponsor these kinds of snowstorms… mmm Reese’s Blizzard…

The pics are much bigger when you click on them. I recommend the second and sixth ones.

A smashing good time

Jonathan and I went to our first Tulsa Oilers game in a couple of years last night. It was also our first time to be in their new home, the BOK Center. (Not the “Bawk Center”, as Larry the Cable Guy reportedly pronounced it when he performed there a few weeks ago.)

The Oilers lost to hated rival Oklahoma City, 3-2, but it was still an entertaining game. The action was pretty front-heavy, as Tulsa scored first. The first 20 minutes also included three fights. I told Jonathan before the game I would be disappointed to see less than three and was pleased I was right.

The first fight was won by a Blazer, hands-down (the penalties for the first two fights were issued at the same time, and the action was on the other side of the ice, so I’m not sure who fought when). The fight was a little dirty though, as the Oiler fell early in the fight but was kind of helped up so they could keep fighting. It was weird. The Oilers won the second fight handily, as the guy wailed on his sparring partner. Captain Jeff Christian, who is not much of a fighter, fought the third fight, but it seemed to take a lot of convincing by the Blazer. Christian looked really reluctant to drop the gloves.

Among other highlights was the Blazer goalie, Doug Groenestege , whacking his stick against the glass after he was scored on in the first. I think he thought he had been interfered with. Also enjoyable was the Oiler who delivered two crushing checks in the same shift, sans helmet.

I was surprised how competitive a game it was, considering the Blazers are a playoff team and the Oilers are the third-worst team in the league. But all bets are off in rivalry games.

The Oilers were hampered by overall sloppy play, including turnovers in their own zone, and they seemed to hang their goalie out to dry on several occasions. They also took quite a few dumb penalties.

I was impressed with the BOK Center. It’s definitely a huge step up from the Convention Center, which didn’t have a JumboTron and smelled like feet every time the air kicked on. The building as a whole was aesthetically pleasing, and the bathrooms were immaculate. Also, we were able to park for free just by walking an extra block. I feel like if more of the guests had known their way around downtown, fewer would have coughed up $5 to park.

The only things I didn’t like about the arena were how the ticket office wasn’t clearly marked and the seats, which were a really cheap-looking shade of cerulean blue. They stood out like a sore thumb when empty as opposed to the charcoal gray seats many higher-tier arenas have. Also, the safety netting was really thick and visible. They need to call American Airlines Center and get what they use.

All in all, it was good, affordable fun for a Tuesday night. Even if you don’t like hockey or know nothing about it, I definitely recommend going just once. The Oilers have one more home game this season. It’s next Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. against Mississippi.

I wanted to upload video I took of a breakaway by the Oilers, but WordPress doesn’t support avi files. There might be a way to convert it, but I’m too tired to find out.

First-period action.

Faceoff.

Thanks for ruining my childhood

So Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs on Monday.

Great. Another ex-Texas Ranger is linked to steroids. There’s another bobblehead for the dumpster.

Just add A-Rod to a long list of guilty – or at least highly suspicious – Rangers, such as Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez.

I actually used to admire A-Rod’s tireless, some would say obsessive, work ethic and fluid fielding.

As fellow lefties (I played varsity softball in high school), my daddy and I admired Raffy’s smooth-as-butter swing. You could always count on RBI-machine Juan Gonzalez to come through for a big, clutch hit.

Let’s not forget iron man Pudge Rodriguez, who was always praised for playing the most physically demanding position in the sweltering Texas heat with consistent catlike-ness.

All tarnished memories.

Actually, I still have my Rafael Palmeiro bobblehead, as well as the commemorative poster I got when I attended the game in which he hit his 500th career home run.

There’s even a place on the poster for my ticket from Sunday, May 11, 2003. Section 45, Row 14, Seat 2. Less than 10 rows away from where that ball landed. My family was even visible on TV.

These were handed out at the game. Notice the classy Viagra ad in the corner.

Also in my collection is a yellowed newspaper clipping from Dec. 12, 2000. The corners have greasy spots from being hung on my bedroom wall with Sticky-Tac. From the Star-Telegram, the page features a cutout of A-Rod in a Mariners uniform, seemingly paused in the motion of turning two. To the right is a breakdown of A-Rod’s skills at the five tools of diamond-played sports. All five are favorable reviews.

This page ran in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after he signed his record-breaking contract. It also hung on my wall for several years to inspire my little softball heart.

I have an autographed Rusty Greer jersey, too. I am 99 percent sure it, however, is safe.

So what do I, as well as all the other once-impressionable youth who are now in our 20s, do? The people who grew up with Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Nolan Ryan as their heroes don’t have this problem. If players did anything illegal in those days, it likely didn’t enhance their performances. (Except for Dock Ellis.) And by the time the infants of today are old enough to enjoy the sport and have a favorite team, there will probably be much better ways of testing for steroids.

To me, A-Rod is like the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’m done. I’m tired of it. Wipe those years from my memory.

What really matters are the memories I made going to games with my family and friends. The dollar hot dogs, the fireworks, and the quiet nights talking shop with my dad are so much more important than a few collectibles.

Boat Show

I dragged went with Jonathan to the Tulsa Boat Show today. It was fun getting to tour million-dollar yachts with their leather interiors and multiple cozy bedrooms. I also enjoyed going inside the houseboats and looking at all the glittery motorboats. And now I want a jet ski real bad.

But really, we just went to see Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel.

I only got a couple of pictures. Twiggy moves pretty fast, and there were a lot of kids in the way.

Twiggy and her trainer

Twiggy again

A sitting area on the million-dollar boat

Another sitting area

A cozy bedroom

Jonathan at the helm!

I don’t really know how to make the pictures big, so just click on each individually to enlarge. There are two of Twiggy and her trainer and the rest are of the inside of a luxury boat. Fun times.