Okie Sister

You Know What I'm Talking About

Deep Thoughts by Okie Sister

David Hasselhoff attended school in La Grange, Illinois.
La Grange is French for "the barn."
So if anyone asks David Hasselhoff, "What, were you raised in a barn?"
He can answer, "Yes!"

Sister Sightings (10)

In Memoriam: Oklahoman Tony Hillerman passed away Sunday October 26th in an Albuquerque hospital. He was born May 27, 1925 in Sacred Heart, OK in Pottawatomie County. He was a decorated WWII veteran, returning from France with two shattered legs that never stopped causing him pain. He was a journalist, educator, and author, best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels.
“The teacher at Sacred Heart’s one-room school house was rumored to be a member of the KKK, so Tony and his brother were sent to St. Mary’s Academy, a school for Indian girls. It was there that he developed a lifelong respect for Indian culture and an appreciation of what it meant to be an outsider in your own land.”
He and his wife Marie raised six children, five of them adopted. Hillerman worked at one time as the city editor for our local paper, The Lawton Constitution. He was inducted into the OK Journalism Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

Randy Stotler passed away September 29, 2008. Randy was an award winning photo journalist for The Lawton Constitution newspaper.
“He had the ability to capture the essence of life through his still photography. He was proud of his Animal Shelter photos, which led to the adoption of many pets. He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.”
(For another sample of Stotler's work, see the photo on my About page. Yes, Randy took that shot of me and my husband in Elmer Thomas Park.)
Yesterday a memorial was held at the park by his friends and colleges from the paper. Next to Lake Helen, they remembered their friend and planted an oak tree in his honor.

 

 

TV: The Discovery Channel's show "Storm Chasers" is back for another season. Look for the TIV (tornado intercept vehicle) that was built right here in Lawton, OK. The TIV looks like something right out of Mad Max and certainly turns heads when it's parked on a city street.

Fine Living Channel has a new series called "Whatever, Martha!" The premise of the show is Martha Stewart’s daughter Alexis and her friend Jennifer Koppelman Hutt watch old segments of Martha Stewart Living and make wise cracks at Martha’s expense. It’s pretty funny. It airs on Tuesday nights.

Did anyone catch the episode of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" with guest John Tyler Hammons? Remember, I told you about Hammons when he became the 19 year-old Mayor of Muskogee, OK.

 

All I Got Is A Photograph: I snapped this photo somewhere west of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refugee. I say “somewhere” because I actually had no idea where I was driving at the time, much to my husband’s chagrin. We had a lot of laughs though, wondering aimlessly through the countryside. The white flowers are actually a weed, but they look pretty when there is a whole field full of them.

 

 

Update: Thank you Tammy for the plant identification: Euphorbia marginata or Snow on the Mountain. Here is a close up picture.

Seven More Days

I look forward to the privilege of casting my vote on Election Day. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we are able to have a voice in how our country is run. That’s only one of the many things that make the United States of America the greatest country on Earth.

We also live in a country where political candidates are able to voice whatever rhetoric that free speech and hefty campaign contributions can afford them. So, I am also looking forward to this election season being over and all the campaign ads being a thing of the past. The folks in our state have really been getting down and dirty.

The majority of people made up their mind months ago who they were voting for anyway. No amount of persuasion, reasoning, or argument will change their vote.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to be presented with “the facts” and then be able to form an intelligent decision based on that. Instead we have to wade through the deceit and coercion in order to find the truth about our candidates.

I vote for the person who I feel is the most qualified for the job, regardless of party affiliation. I look for experience, a proven track record, community involvement, integrity, and honesty. A person willing to stand up for what they believe in, even if it is not the popular thing to do. A person whose values and beliefs reflect my own; an advocate.

Unfortunately, we also have to look at who our candidates align themselves with; I believe their associations reflect on them. We also have to look at who funds them; whose deep pockets they have their hands in.

Does the person who spends the most money on their campaign win? Can votes be bought this way? We will see….

Editorial

Here's an interesting editorial I read today: Media's Presidential Bias and Decline by Michael S Malone, ABC News columist.
"The media have covered this presidential campaign with a bias and that ultimately could lead to its downfall."

 

I love the caveat at the end of the article.

"This is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News."

No kidding.....

Running On Empty?

Incredibly gas dipped below $2 a gallon here today.
I looked at the gas station sign.

<

I looked at my gas gauge.

Son of a ……

Swift Leppard in the Country

Honey, this blog's for you!

The first look at Taylor Swift's Crossroads special with Def Leppard. The show will air on CMT on November 7th.

Funny thing is, Taylor was not even born when Def Leppard came out with the song "Photograph" in 1983.

Click here to watch video.

Silver Lining

A cold front moved across the state yesterday. I know because I saw it for myself, just before sunset.

 

 

 

The winds began to howl and the sky quickly turned from brilliant blue to menacing gray.

 

 

And just when it looked bleakest, a break in the clouds for a blinding last peak at the setting sun. Glorious!

Litterbug Alert

People are funny!
This person thinks that litter on the ground behind their house is an eyesore, but doesn't mind having this written on their back fence.

Trick Or Treat

"I believe in reincarnation," Okie Reba McEntire said Friday. "I believe I've gone both ways - that I have been here before as a man."
"I will get flak from Christians who will say I can't be a Christian if I believe this. That's true, and I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe.”
“I believe I have spent time with other people in my life before.”

I wanted to write about these comments, but I didn’t want to get into a heavy religious or theological discussion. Just some random thoughts that popped into my noggin.

Many people believe as Reba does; that they’ve experienced this worldly life before. Several religions and cultures throughout history believe in reincarnation.
Let me just say that in America we are free to believe whatever we want to.
I try to keep an open mind about such matters and let people live their lives however they choose as long as they are not harming others.

Have you ever had déjà vu? What exactly is it, if not reliving an experience you‘ve had before? And why has Okie Sister always felt like she drown once? And yes, this was before the unfortunate canoeing experience in my youth. Now, that was déjà vu!

I think a lot people wonder about what comes next after this earthly life, or if there is something else out there. Christians believe in an afterlife, angels, and miracles. Is it so far removed to think that some individuals are more in touch with the spiritual signs around them?
Are psychics real or are they just performing “cold readings”? I’ve quoted psychic Sylvia Brown in this blog before. I always enjoyed watching her on the Montel Williams show. Sylvia and some other mediums are known for working with police to help solve crimes. Doesn’t that make their special intuition a gift? Since Montel is no longer on TV, I find myself occasionally tuning into John Edwards Crossing Over…for entertainment, of course. If he makes people feel better or able to move on with their lives after losing someone they love, is that a bad thing?

Okay, I know the argument….it’s of the devil like seances and Ouija board stuff. Must we vilify everything? Can’t Halloween just be about dressing up like a pirate and getting candy?
Oh, and yummy candy apples.

And speaking of pirates…I couldn’t resist buying this Halloween Eggnog at the grocery store this week. What a great way to promote your seasonal product for other times of the year. Why should I have to wait until Christmas to dust off the bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum for my delicious eggnog? This is not unlike the ghost and pumpkin Peeps I saw in the store. What’s next Valentine Eggnog?

See, I told you this was random “Noggin” stuff….get it?

Anyway, next week…we will discuss Reba saying she’s gone both ways.

No...not really!

Boomer Sooner

We Okies love our Sooner football and the couch behind a lot of their early success, Mr. Barry Switzer. It’s not as bad as was depicted in the episode of “Saving Grace” that aired this summer titled “Do You Love Him?” The characters on the show bowed before “his greatness.” But Barry is a local celebrity throughout the state.

I was surprised by my own reaction at seeing him yesterday. I was on my way to visit my grandson and drove past Barry’s house as usual. There he was, with coffee mug in hand, picking up the newspaper off of his driveway.

“Hi Barry Switzer,” I smiled and waved. He gave me a puzzled look as if to say, do I know this person and why is she waving at me. “Because you are Barry Switzer, that’s why.”

Ducking Out

No random musings or pearls of wisdom today. 

I've been busying working on my family tree.

So, I leave you with ducks. Why? I don't know.

I just thought this picture turned out good.

 

Your Pocket is Ringing....

One of these days I’m going to finally get it all together.

Of course, then I will probably forget where I put it.

This morning before I left for work, I had to call my cell phone in order to find it. It was in the pocket of the yoga pants I had worn the evening before.

How many times a week do you call to locate your cell phone?

That "My Story" and I'm Sticking To It

For the past fifteen years, I’ve enjoyed my nightly routine of slipping off into the bedroom and watching “my stories”. I’ve recorded "The Young & The Restless" and "General Hospital" every day as far back as I can remember.
My mom watched GH, so it was on every afternoon since 1963. I’ve watched Y&R since day one, 1973. Back then it was a half hour, black and white production. Pictured here is Jeanne Cooper who plays Katherine Chancellor on Y&R. Jeanne made history by having the first televised face lift. She is mother to actor Corbin Bernsen.
Anyway, watching these shows is my relaxation time. Time spent alone at the end of the day unwinding.

This has always worked out well because my tastes in TV shows and my husbands don’t always jive. Yes, there are many, many programs that we enjoy together, but I can watch hours and hours of decorating shows on HGTV. Not my husband’s cup of tea, although he does now know about venetian plaster, toile fabric, removing wallpaper, and many other things that get him busted in mixed company conversations.
He would rather be enjoying a show with cops and crime like CSI, Dexter, The Shield, Law and Order, etc. To me these are all the same show. I don’t like to fill my mind with all that violence.
Are you laughing? Yes, there is violence in soaps, but it’s not graphic. Plus there’s lots of intrigue and romance to make up for it.

Okay, now cut to today. I’m not sure exactly when this happened. I think my husband ran out of show to watch this summer. Anyway, he was in the room a few times while I was viewing my soaps. He started asking me questions about the characters. Having watched the shows for so many years, you can imagine that my answers were quite long and convoluted. But that’s the nature of soap operas. Every character has a back story and has been involved in one way or another with every other person on the show.

So now, I’m sure he wouldn’t admit this, but he is in there watching Y&R with me every day, and that other show too “the one with the docks and Sonny.” Yeah, that’s GH honey.

 

Side note: Steven Ford, son of President Gerald Ford appeared on Y&R in the early eighties. He played Andy Richards, a coworker and friend to Paul Williams. Andy was romantically involved with Jill Abbott at one time. She turned out to be Katherine Chancellor's daughter. Steven also appeared in one of my favorite movies of all time, John Carpenter's "Escape From New York."

I Feel It

Trace Adkins, you’ve done it again! You’ve completely blown me away with your latest release.

I now officially forgive you for that stupid Badonkadonk song. 

First there was I Wanna Feel Something, then You’re Gonna Miss This, and now Muddy Water, your best work yet.

By returning to his gospel roots, Trace has captured something very moving and special in this song.

Trace says, “I’m still a bad boy, but I look back and I remember where I came from and haven’t forgotten that.”

 

Muddy Water
Eighteen wheeler dropped me off at that city limits sign
Sunday morning sunlight hurt my eyes
It’s a long way from where I been back to my home town
But there’s a man in me I need to drown

Baptize me in that muddy water
Wash me clean in amazing grace
I ain’t been living like I ‘oughta
Baptize me in that muddy water

Made my way to the church at the end of the dirt road
Dragging what was left of my soul
I could see the saints out back on the river bank
And I could hear forgiveness calling out my name

Baptize me in that muddy water
Wash me clean in amazing grace
I ain’t been living like I ‘oughta, no
So baptize me in that muddy water

Baptize me in that muddy water
Wash me clean in amazing grace
I ain’t been living like I ‘oughta, no
Baptize me in that muddy water

Baptize me in that muddy water
Yeah, wash me clean in that muddy water,
In that muddy water
Baptize me

 

Side note: If you’ve not seen the Crossroads episode on CMT with Trace and .38 Special, you need to try and catch a repeat of it because it was especially good. They sang hits Caught Up In You, Rockin’ Into The Night, and Hold On Loosely.

Hunks 2008

Sexy soap star Greg Vaughan was in town this last weekend. The "Ladies Night Out" event gave fans a chance to meet the model turned actor. Greg has starred in both of my favorite stories. On The Young and the Restless, Greg played Diego Guttierez, a love interest of the Victoria Newman character. Greg is currently working on General Hospital in the role of Lucky Spencer, son of the infamous Luke and Laura Spencer.

Well, as cute as Greg is, I actually got a better offer and ended up not attending the free event. Instead I spent my weekend with this gorgeous charmer.

Who is out of touch with technology?

As a self proclaimed computer geek and former IBM employee, I feel it is my duty to set the record straight on something I heard on TV last night. Something broadcast to millions of people around the world. Because there may still be folks out there that believe that the things said on TV, or written in the media, are true.

 

But the fact of the matter is, (unlike what was stated last night): The computer was not invented by the government.

 

And for those of you under 30, it wasn't invented by Steve Jobs or buzzillionaire Bill Gates either. I won't bore you with a long history lesson here. If you want to learn the truth, you can look it up yourself. (Key words to search: Charles Babbage, ENIAC, John Vincent Atanasoff, EDSAC, etc.)

 

I would advise researching any information that comes out of politicians. Study all the issues and become informed. That way you can make an intelligent decision at the polls in November.

If you don't like the weather, wait a minute

When I left work this afternoon the sky was starting to look a little ominous. We Okies know when "a storms a brewin". My first thought was of Cricket dog, who is afraid of bad weather. Well, maybe that was my second thought, because I saw these clouds and immediately sang out, “The Simpsons….!”

Half way home it started pouring, and the streets were flooding, and people were creeping along doing almost 20.

Three blocks from my house the sky broke loose its fury in the form of hailstones. It was so loud I could no longer hear my radio.

Some idiot passed me on the left and sprayed a wall of water over all the cars in my lane. Of course they now all slam on their brakes because everyone is blinded. Fifteen minutes later, I arrive safely home just as the sky clears and the sun reappears. A rainbow peaks out and disappears before I can even park my car and grab my camera.

 

Inside, the dogs are happy to see me as usual. Cricket attaches herself to me. Like I said, she doesn’t like storms and usually hides under the covers.

The rain is welcomed. The leaves were already starting to fall from the trees in my back yard. The balloon flowers are backlit by the break in the storm.

The trumpet vine casts his shadow on the trellised fence.

"Raindrops on roses and …..these are a few of my favorite things."

Lola peers out from beneath a chair on the deck as if to ask, “Is it safe to come out now?"

"I think I left my toys out in the rain.”

“You think?” Their favorite game is to empty the toy basket inside and drag each toy outside, one by one. It is a very rare sight to see one going back the other direction.

I love the clouds and the blue, blue sky.

I thought the patch of sky in this shot looked like the outline of the United States.

 Seeee…right there.

Oh look a bird!

The Presidental Suite

Saw this poster listed on Ebay this week.

 

 

It reminded me of the excitement of having the President come to our little town. I didn't attend the festivities. I don't think I was too interested, as I was only a Jr High School student.

 

However in High School, I do remember attending a party held in the Gerald Ford Suite of the local Montego Bay Hotel, now the Best Western.

 

President Ford slept there.

 

Side note: My husband tells me that he went to this event. He was on the staff of his high school newspaper, "The Patriot." They did a cover story on the president. Copies where sent to the president at the hotel room for him to sign for the students. Those signed copies were stolen from Montego Bay, along with the sheets that President Gerald Ford slept on.

'Til Now

To continue the "bash Hollywood" roll that I seem to be on lately, I offer the following.

'Til Death used to be on my list of top five comedy shows because it was laugh-out-loud funny. But FOX couldn't have that. They couldn't continue to produce and write an intelligent and witty sitcom. Instead they have "gone in a different direction." You suck FOX Network!

I have lost count of how many shows they have messed with. The sad thing is that they can produce good shows. But as soon as you get attached, they cancel them. Or mess them up, like they've done with 'Til Death.

Here's the original premise of the show, from their own website: "'Til Death is a comedy about long-married couple Eddie (Brad Garrett) and Joy Stark (Joely Fisher), who are closing in on day 9,000 of their marriage and have the battle scars to prove it. Their new next-door neighbors are young newlyweds Steph (Kat Foster) and Jeff Woodcock (Eddie Kaye Thomas) – idealistic, passionate, adorable and married for a matter of days. It’s a show about new marriage versus old marriage, about keeping the romance alive – or at least staying together so you have someone to drive you to the hospital for your operations."

I related to this “old” married couple, Eddie and Joy. They bicker and complain their way through life. To others it may seem like fighting, but they love each other deeply and enjoy each others company and quirks.

Well, this season Jeff Woodcock and his slutty, funny, slacker wife Stephanie are nowhere to be found. They are not even listed as characters on the website anymore.

Instead the show is all about Kenny, played by some comedian named JB Smooth. The Kenny character is a divorced side kick. He's in practically every scene, so I guess that actually makes him the main character of the show now. Kenny talks fast and mumbles his words, making it very hard to understand what he is saying. The parts I do hear are not amusing. Did they get new writers? What does this character have to do with marriage. Why didn't FOX just give this guy his own show if they like him so much? Why did he have to overrun this one?

Evidently I’m not the only one upset about this change. Here are some headlines from the FOX message board: Woodcocks Gone..So Am I, Worst.Episode.Ever., Show is ruined, Mourning the death of ‘Til Death, Kenny's gotta go!, Bring back the Woodcocks!!! And my personal favorite post headline "OMG, They (should’ve) Killed Kenny!"

But why listen to your loyal viewers… you never have before. This show is no longer watchable. I say Death is imminent...it would have been kinder to just cancel this show.

Senior Moment

Today I was checking out at the Vet’s office and making an appointment next week for one of the other dogs.

I asked the girl if she could write the date and time down on a card for me because, "I can’t remember anything anymore."

She said, “I just handed it to you.”

To which I replied, “Well, I guess I proved my point, didn’t I!”

And then we both had a good laugh at my expense.

Photo Caption

"You say Massitoosits, I say Massachusetts.

You say Pockiston, I say Pakistan.

Nevodda, Nevada,

Let’s call the whole thing off."

Look A Sign!

On my way to work this morning, I had to chuckle when I noticed this sign in front of the local Republican Headquarters.

 

Too funny!