Okie Sister

The Original Lawton High School

Toured the new City Hall building on Friday. That’s the renovated Central Junior High School. The original Lawton High School. How wonderful that our city kept this landmark, instead of bulldozing it down and building a mall, like they did  to our downtown main street. Anyway, I digress because it still upsets me that we lost so much history in the name of progress.

The City Hall building is now modern and spacious, with elevators and a new glass façade. At the same time, the integrity of the former facility has been preserved. That’s awesome! They even kept one classroom to act as a museum to the building’s past with photos of former Lawton High students.

The event I attended was a farewell reception for our current mayor, John Purcell. This project was built under his leadership, but he will not serve from the new mayor’s office. A desk was brought in for a final photo op and to fulfill a promise that he would sit in the new office.

The mayor was presented with a plaque that had a photo of the building, a special key to the city and encouraging mayor’s coins that he was so famous for. The photo of the building was taken by Hubby. It's stunning!

Outside, a bronze buffalo has been placed on the grounds and dedicated to this fine and likeable mayor. What a beautiful piece of art to add to the downtown landscape.

I Love Love

Hope everyone’s Valentine’s Day was layers and layers of yummy goodness.

Our son gave his lady a diamond ring, so now both our kids are officially engaged.

Fiancée has a nice “ring” to it.

I think this means I need to buy some new shoes, because at some point one of them might actually have a  wedding. Although I’m not opposed to elopement.

Love is in the air.

It takes a lot to find that special someone  who completes you; who makes you happy and puts up with all your faults. The person that you know is going to be there for you in good times and bad. I feel they have both found that.

Or did it find them?

Hubby and I are tired of being the only “old married couple” in the family. We thought our gagging-ly sweet shining example of marriage would be an encouragement for others to following in our footsteps

...even if we can’t remember how long we’ve been married.

Wacky Mail

With much trepidation, I changed my internet carrier last year. I was very concerned that in changing my email address, I might lose contact with someone important to me. I sent out emails to friends and family notifying them of the change. I had to update all my online accounts, utilities, credit cards and boards where I post. Then I experienced a dry spell for email and knew that I had a problem. Emails I sent were also bouncing back to me undelivered.

However, I had fantastic (meaning fast) internet connection. After about a month, the email problem finally disappeared.

Then I got notice that my new internet carrier was changing their name and that I would have to change my email address.
Again? Do you know how long it took me to remember all the accounts where I needed to change this info? And now I would have to do it all again. Needless to say, I have no idea who has what address at this point.

This week I got a letter in the mail. It was from my internet carrier.
Seems they were unable to reach me by email.
Huh?
Weren't they able to look at my account? ...because they are my internet carrier!

Last week I received a letter from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It stated that I owed $80 for my 2006 tax return. With added interest, this amount was now $113. I immediately remembered that I had received a check from them out of the blue sometime around September. I dug my photocopy of it out of the file cabinet. Yep, it was for exactly $80. At that time, they reported I had overpaid them for my 2006 tax return.

What a con!
Is this a new Oklahoma money making scheme?

I wrote them a check for $80 ...even. It got mailed with a letter from my accountant.

Good grief.
 

Lawton High School Class of 1980

I finally broke down and joined Facebook.
I had resisted before, because I honestly felt that I could not spare another minute for anything else.
I had already gone from blogging everyday to random postings because of my genealogy research.
See, I have a tendency to obsess over anything new.
However, if I had known that so many of my family were members, I would have joined a long time ago.
 
I was encouraged to sign up by my friend and partner in crime schoolmate, Ranae.
Seems this year is our 30th high school reunion and the group doing the planning communicate via Facebook.
So I'll do my part here by giving a shout out to all the graduates of Lawton High School class of 1980 that might stop by Okie Sister.
Come join me and our classmates on Facebook. It would be great to reconnect with you.

 

Come On, Get HAPPY

Man, I've wished I could do this and now it might happen:

Dear Animal Advocates,

Introduced by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, H.R. 3501—known as the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act—is a federal bill that would reward responsible pet parents by allowing them to keep more money in their pockets come tax time.

We all want to give our animal companions the best care we possibly can, but it seems that pet care costs are always on the rise—and these days, it’s harder than ever to stretch the family budget. That’s why the ASPCA supports H.R. 3501, which would amend U.S. tax code to allow qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care, to be tax-deductible.

This means that when you prepare your income taxes, money you spent on pet care that year would count as non-taxable income—and you can deduct up to $3,500 per year!

Please help us support the HAPPY Act, H.R. 3501.

ASPCA

Click on the link above to find out how you can support this bill.

Gonna Make You Sweat

Holy heat, Batman! It's hot outside.

I thought the dancing slugs were a nice touch.

A Spreading Epidemic

Do you suffer from it?

A Daughter's Plea

Maria Shriver testified yesterday before the Senate's Special Committee on Aging and urged them to implement the recommendations of the Alzheimer’s Study Group.

A new report suggests the disease could very easily surpass even the current economic crisis in the damage it inflicts on individuals and our economy.

"We have to put Alzheimer's on the front burner, because if we don't, Alzheimer's will not only devour our memories, it will cripple our families, devastate our health-care system and decimate the legacy of our generation."

Maria spoke lovingly of her father Sergent Shriver and how his mind used to be a “beautifully tuned instrument that left people in awe” and now he doesn’t even know her name.

I was very moved by her closing statement:
“I hope you will get busy right now and do what you have to do to spare millions of Americans the future pain of watching someone they love and feeling powerless. If you do I’m convinced, truly convinced, that we baby boomers will be the generation who gets to tell our grandchildren that, believe it or not, there once was a time when there was no cure for Alzheimer’s.”

Coming To A Market Near You

 

 

A Brazilian Wandering Spider was spotted by a store employee in the produce department at Whole Foods Market in Tulsa. It is believed the creature arrived in Oklahoma on bananas shipped from Honduras. The store manager says they regularly inspect their produce for insects. The spider was captured and turned over to biologists at the University of Tulsa.

 

This particular spider, also known as a Banana Spider (because they like to hide in them), is one of the deadliest and most aggressive in the world. The venom is fatal. TU notes that there is an antidote, but none is known to be available locally. The effects of the neurotoxin, known as PhTx3, are difficulty breathing, loss of muscle control, increase in blood pressure, intense pain, paralysis and eventual asphyxiation; all within twenty minutes.

 

In Brazil, emergency room staff immediately identify a bite from this spider in male victims because they also develops priapism, an uncomfortable erection that can last for many hours. Research is already underway for a possible use for the spider’s venom in developing a new drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for those who don’t respond to Viagra. To read more about this study and how they inserted “tiny needle-like devices into rat’s penises” to measure the effects of the venom-chemical, click here.

 

And no, I had no idea where this story would lead me when I started researching the Banana Spider. Some days are just like this.

 

 

 

 

And thank you Hubby for suggesting the title, "Is that a spider in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

OK Legislators Not Using Horse Sense

Some things I hear about sure do put "a burr under my saddle" (as my oldest brother would say)

Today's subject: Horse Dentistry. Seriously, does the Oklahoma legislature have nothing more important to do than make sure that people don't tattoo their eyeballs and that cowboys don't work on their horse's teeth. They've passed a new law that now makes it a felony to work on a horse's teeth without a vet's license. Are you kidding me? What's next, a misdemeanor for birthin' a foal?

OKLAHOMA IS THE ONLY STATE IN WHICH THIS IS A FELONY OFFENSE.

From the Lawton Constitution 3/16/09
New Law Addresses Horse Dentistry 
    OKLAHOMA CITY - A new law that makes it a felony to perform dental work on horses without a veterinary license has lassoed an Oklahoma rodeo star.
   Bobby Griswold was arrested March 4 after meeting with an undercover state investigator in the parking lot of an Oklahoma City convenience store, officials said. Griswold then injected a horse and performed dental work, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners agent alleged.
   Griswold, 40, of Geary, hasn’t been formally charged and is free on bail.
   Officials said they acted after getting a complaint and that Griswold had been warned four times by letter to stop the practice of teeth floating.* 
   In a statement, Griswold said he is preparing a vigorous defense. “My family and I have received unbelievable support through this situation, and it all means so much,” he said. “We are truly blessed.”
   Griswold’s supporters say non-veterinarian equine dentists are essential because there are not enough vets to care for the thousands of horses in the state. They also say lay equine dentists have done what he’s accused of for hundreds of years.
   Until Nov. 1, such a practice was a misdemeanor
   The sponsor of the new law, Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester, said prosecutors declined to charge illegal horse dentists when the violation was only a misdemeanor, but “they can’t ignore a felony. These guys have been breaking the law for years and years.”

*Floating is a process in which a large file (float) is used to file down both any sharp "points" and any other abnormal dental growth that may cause the animal oral discomfort or make chewing of feed inefficient.

 

From The Oklahoman 3/15/09

   His arrest has caused an uproar in the state horse industry, with his supporters contacting legislators to try to get the law repealed. Some are listening. "It’s a big mistake,” said Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City. "We need to fix that because it’s way too harsh.”

   Renegar, a Veterinarian, said he was asked to sponsor the legislation by the state Board of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. He said it passed in the Legislature without a single "no” vote.

   He said the law protects horses because only vets are supposed to be able to administer the sedatives needed to work on teeth. Done improperly, the horse could die, he said. "It’s illegal for anyone but a veterinarian to have these drugs in their possession,” he said.

   The legislator also said vets are trained to notice problems in a horse’s mouth, such as symptoms of cancer, which a lay dentist would miss. "It’s not just grinding teeth,” he said

I guess this get me so fired up because my grandpa was a horse doctor. Neighbors in southwest Oklahoma brought their horses to him for treatment. He was not a veterinarian. He probably had little formal schooling, but he knew horses. My father in-law has the exact same story about his grandpa. This is the way it has always been in Oklahoma. Until now.

 

Don't get me wrong, you should definitely have a qualified person treating any of your animals. I wouldn't ever consider taking one of my dogs to someone who wasn't trained to doctor them.

 

And I do not condone breaking the law. Clearly this piece of legislation was not researched properly and should be reexamined. If you are a certified Equine Dentist, you should have access to, and training for, all tools and medications necessary to perform your job. Let's use some common sense here, or should I say "horse sense."

 

Pro Rodeo Champion Bobby Griswold is known throughout the rodeo circuit for his Equine Dentistry. Plus, he was obliviously the victim of a sting operation.

 

From the Dallas Morning News 1/23/08
"Originally from Washington, Griswold now makes his home in Geary, a stone's throw from Oklahoma City. After graduating from Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College, he was part of the national championship rodeo team in 1991 and 1992 at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford.
His career as a bronc rider almost ended at the Great Lakes Circuit Finals in 2000 when he was bucked off and landed on his neck. Some rib heads from his sternum were broken off and lodged in his shoulder blade.
He was unable to compete for a while, but he used the time to get his Equine Dentistry Certification.
The movements used in dentistry helped him gain strength in his shoulder and back, allowing him to return to the rodeo arena."

From TheHorse.com

Tom Allen, DVM, who's also certified through the International Association of Equine Dentistry, argues that nonveterinarians who complete equine dental school programs master specific skills some veterinary school graduates never acquire."Graduates of equine dentistry schools put in hundreds of hours studying dental technique," he said. "Veterinarians are not required to demonstrate any proficiency in equine dentistry in order to be licensed."

 

 

From Oklahoma Equine Dentistry Law website:

The reality of it is there are too few "teeth floating vets" to fulfill the needs of every horse in this state. There are only 1700 veterinarians in Oklahoma, and only a very small portion of those are willing to float equine teeth. There are between 300,000 and 400,000 horses in Oklahoma.  Furthermore, there are fewer than 100 teeth floaters in this state, who perform an average of 250 to 2000 float jobs each per year, which is representative of a very large portion of Oklahoma's horse owners. This trade should not be reserved to only veterinarians, as equine teeth floating is an act of animal husbandry and has been done by laymen for several hundred years. Many of Oklahoma's largest farms, ranches and training centers utilize the services of non-DVM teeth floaters. Many of Oklahoma's veterinarians also utilize non-DVM teeth floaters to help fulfill the needs of their clients. Those DVMs would not allow unqualified individuals to work on their client's horses if they were not confident in his or her ability to do the job. Vets and teeth floaters are chosen by horse owners.  They each provide services for the betterment of the horse. Instances where horses have been harmed or killed as a direct result of a layperson floating their teeth are unheard of. Furthermore, most "complaints" to the vet board regarding non-DVM equine dentists are made by certain veterinarians, not horse owners. It is unfair to punish someone because he didn't go through 8 years of training to provide a service that is taught in schools outside of veterinary school, as well as through apprenticeship. We must come to an understanding and be respectful of each others profession. The livelihoods of individuals and their families are at stake and people could lose their homes over this. Most importantly, Oklahoma's horses will suffer. This must stop now. Let the owner make the choice. It is his to make, no one else's.

 

"Unfortunately, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, admitted to playing a part in it. They deliberately set him up by asking him to come and work on a horse. You would think law enforcement officials have better things to do than go around arresting people for helping horses. We can only imagine how confused the officers must have been for having to take an American Rodeo Icon to jail for filing teeth."

Read what others (including several vets) say about it here.

 

To hear from, or to offer support, visit Bobby Griswold's website.

 

I read several blogs of people who raise horses. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. And to all my readers, "What say you all?"

Happy 50th Babs

 

I’m absolutely mortified. This is an artist’s rendition of what the original Barbie, Barbara Millicent Roberts, might look like at 50 years old had she aged naturally.

Are you kidding me? This gal looks older than 50 to me, however the grey hair might be accurate. But would Barbie leave it that way? Wouldn’t she find herself a new hairdresser, get a cute current cut and highlights? Or was that Okie Sister?

 

Would Babs still be this skinny? Or would she have gained 30 a few extra pounds around the middle? And at 50, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t be wearing such bright pink lipstick. She would know what colors look best on her.

I’m thinking she would have more lines on her face. After all, she’s worked like a bazillion jobs over the years, including a stint in the military. Maybe some laugh lines too, from all the fun she’s had along the way. Love the bags under the eyes; that must be from years of late nights like this one.

 

Is this somewhere in Oklahoma? Perhaps a "behind the scene expose" of what really happens when fellow bloggers gather at PW’s ranch house? No, this looks more like those zany gals down in Idabel to me. Party on, sisters!

 

I had a Barbie when I was a little girl. Not 10 or 20 naked Barbies cluttering the floor, but one Barbie. And she didn’t have a dream house, or a pink car, or a closet full of clothes. In fact, my oldest sister sewed her a blue penoir set so she would have a second outfit.

I held on to my vintage Barbie until my own daughter played with dolls. My Barbie had aged somewhat over the years, but still had a lot of life left in her. I turned my cherished Barbie over to my only child thinking she would care for and love it for many year to come. One day I overheard my daughter’s new moniker for my doll. She affectionately had named her, “Going Grey Barbie.”

 

Sprinting to the Finish Line

I’m writing this on Sunday afternoon with the Daytona 500 Qualifying on the TV keeping me company. One of my favorite drivers Mark Martin is currently leading the pack.
Last night I enjoyed the Budweiser Shootout. It was a good race with several wrecks and hard racing. It was only 70 laps long, but I still managed to doze off at one point. Thankfully I was awake for the sprint to the checkered flag, otherwise known as maneuvering through the bigass wreck. I wouldn’t mind if all races were under 100 laps. The best part of races are usually the last few laps anyway.
Forgettabout those ocean wave or soothing sounds noise machines, sign me up for the sounds of racecars driving around a track. Puts me to sleep every time.
Dang Martin Truex just took the pole.

I’m stressing about my upcoming surgery. Wednesday is when I will be put to sleep, have my skin sliced into, flesh pried open, leg bone sawed in half, hip socket built up, and a new titanium ball inserted in the bone. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

 

I’m most concerned about the anesthesia. I wonder if this fear is in my subconscious from childhood. I don’t remember my first hip surgery, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t frightened by what was happening to me. I’ve always been afraid of being put to sleep. (I sympathized when I read this blog about The Mask)

I have a lesser fear of waking up and not being able to remember all my passwords. You know we can't do anything on our computers without our passwords. I’ve written some of them down just in case. I know that defeats the purpose. Also will I remember where I put the list?
If you don’t hear from me for a few days, this is why.

My dog Trixie will be affected most by my absence. She has a tendency to throw up if I’m late coming home from work. I’m guessing she will sit by the front door until I return. That’s pretty sad, isn’t it?

I’ve always felt that hospitals where the best place to go to pick up germs. Yes, I’m a germ-o-phob. Hey, they aren’t filled with healthy people, now are they?
Speaking of which, I almost had to reschedule my operation. I’ve spent the last few days fighting off a cold/sinus/earache. Bed rest, Nyquil and fresh oranges were part of the cure. This photo sums it up.

 

Hey, I plan on hiking through the mountains again with my new hip soon. You just wait and see.

Okay, I just saw this Tony Stewart commercial. I didn’t find it amusing because some of us people have phobias, okay? What do you think about it, funny or not?

Okie Oracle (1)

In an effort to enlighten, as well as entertain, Okie Sister has traveled to a high mountain top in a remote area of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge to consult with the elusive Okie Oracle. Perched high above the lakes and wildlife, the Okie Oracle basks in the serenity and quiet of the unspoiled nature below. The perfect spot to contemplate the chaos and confusion of the everyday world.
Folklore has it that on moonlit nights the Okie Oracle transforms into the great black bison and stand in the middle of Highway 49, daring vehicles to pass without flinching.
The Okie Oracle is knowledgeable in all earthly and otherworld matters and is willing to depart some of this ancient wisdom and advice on us, the lowly masses. If you have an inquiry for the Okie Oracle, email okieoracle@gmail.com and I will again ascend the mountain to obtain answers for you, my readers.

 

Dear Okie Oracle,
Since you are able to explain things in a simplified way that even I can understand, maybe you can help me out here. I've been so busy enjoying my high definition television programs recorded on my DVR, brought to me through The Dish Network, that I've not been keeping up with the major switch about to occur from analog to digital programming. I keep hearing about it, and converter boxes, and government vouchers. What does it all mean? Why is the government involved in TV viewing? Are my tax dollars being used to help people afford what I consider to be a luxury, not a necessity in life?
Sincerely,
Satellite Viewer

Dear Satellite Viewer,
The switch from analog to digital TV only exists to justify having a “crawl”, announcing the transition, annoy me while I’m watching King of the Hill and The Simpsons. I can prove that is the reason because why else would they have the crawl on the high definition channels? These video feeds can only be seen on digital-compliant equipment and they are completely separate from the digital and analog feeds. Exactly how many households have both high-def TVs on satellite or cable *and* analog TVs with “rabbit ears” needing a converter?
The government is involved because, while you consider your money to be YOUR money, they’re pretty sure that your money is THEIR money. They are killing two birds with one stone; if they ignore the Bill of Rights and illegally take your property (cash) BUT give it to someone else (converter box) somehow it all balances out so you can’t really call them sleazy thieves.
Clever, huh?
Okie Oracle

 

"For The World Is Hollow, And I Have Touched The Sky" ST:TOS

Something To Think About

I've mentioned before how much it chaps me when someone I don't care for says something I agree with. (Kid Rock for example.) I wanted to write a post about our outgoing President along the lines of "at least he kept us safe." Then, I read this editorial by Senator Inhofe and he pretty much summed up what I had on my mind. (Senator Inhofe ran one of the dirtiest political campaigns in OK to retain his senate seat this past year. I'm not a fan of the man.)

 

This is only an excerpt from the speech Inhofe gave on the Senate Floor on January 14. In it he outlines what he believes made us vulnerable to the September 11 attacks. He also lists many of the terrorist plots that have been foiled during the Bush administration, which I believe every American should know about. It is an eye opening read. To view the entire speech or to contact the senator, go here.

 

 

 

George W. Bush Kept Country Safe 

By Jim Inhofe, Tulsa Republican, Oklahoma’s Senior U.S. Senator.

While there will be those who will forever dismiss President Bush’s tenure in office, I believe that he has an invisible legacy that very few Americans recognize, but from which all have benefited. 
The bottom line is, because of President Bush there has not been another successful attack on this country since 9/11. 
In the aftermath of Sept. 11, President Bush brought us together as a nation, prevented our enemies from striking again, and captured many who have tried. President Bush awoke a nation so we could begin to deal aggressively with the threats that were facing us. Because of President Bush we no longer treat terrorists like common criminals but as enemy combatants. We no longer turn a blind eye to nuclear proliferation by negotiating without the real threat of military action. We fully funded a readiness challenged, Cold War-equipped and organized military that had suffered from a decade of no modernization. We have removed threatening regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, freeing 50 million people. We have weakened the al-Qaeda network and its affiliates. We have disrupted terrorist plots and built a coalition of more than 90 nations to fight terrorism. And we have transformed our approach to combating terrorism after the 9/11 attacks. 
The fact is that we are safer today than we were eight years ago. I am not saying there have not been setbacks or problems. I am saying that this President has fulfilled his solemn obligation to protect the American people. President Bush understood that this fight against terrorism was not a sprint; but that it is a marathon and we must remain vigilant, determined, and strong. 
Our nation paid a heavy price on Sept. 11 and we must never forget the Pentagon in flames, the towers that fell, the heroes who forced a plane into the ground, and most importantly, the loved ones we lost. Seven years later, we continue to not only fight for the oppressed, but also help the oppressed fight for themselves. 
We must continue to improve our intelligence collection capabilities, our security measures at ports and airports, train stations, bus stations and public events, and our ability to respond to another attack. We must remain committed to fighting against the extremists and their hate-filled ideology in every corner that they hide. In so doing, we inspire people of the world to reject the terrorists and what they stand for. It will take the continued effort of this entire nation as well as the entire globe to rid this world of terrorism and make extremists an endangered species. We must remain true to the cause of freedom and stay the course President Bush pioneered.

Sister Sightings (13)

Television: Laura Prepon aka Donna from That 70’s Show will appear in five episodes of How I Met Your Mother. Could she be the mother?
Laurence Fishburne has been cast as Dr. Raymond Langston on the new season of CSI. Country music phenomenon Taylor Swift will appear in one upcoming episode of that show.
In April, Scott Bakula and Chevy Chase will appear as software development rivals on three episodes of Chuck. Remember Chuck promising his sister that he would find their dad in time for her wedding?
Bakula is also scheduled to appear with Andre Braugher in a new Ray Romano series, Men of a Certain Age, airing later this year on TNT.

Idol Music: First of all, who besides me can’t stop singing David Cook’s Light On?
There’s a DVD out about gold medal Olympic snowboarder Shaun White called Don’t Look Down. Evidently this was aired on ESPN and is now available via Netflix. The music from this video is coming out on a soundtrack this week. Don’t Look Down features music from American Idol contestant, Australian cutie, Michael Johns. There is a beautiful duet on it with fellow Idol singer Brooke White.
Bubbly Brook’s cd, Songs From The Attic, is already out. She’s done a remake of Aerosmith’s Dream On (why?) and Coldplay’s Yellow.
Melinda Doolittle, who also didn’t win the Idol title, has a cd coming out February 3. She has a great pop, jazz, soulful sound. Everything R&B used to be.
Kelly Clarkson’s new cd, All I Ever Wanted, debuts March 17. The first single released is My Life Would Suck Without You. With Suck being the operative word. I don’t particularly care for this song, but the poster for it is... um... interesting. 

 

In Print: Oklahoma rockers Hinder are now immortalized in a comic book based on the band’s touring experiences. I’m sure that even though the book has naked women sitting at their feet on the front cover, it’s totally PG... and PC.
The iconic Stan Lee is working with Showtime to develop a show based on Perry Moore’s novel Hero about gay superhero Thom Creed, a high-school basketball player hiding his sexuality.
Remember the last show Stan Lee brought us, Who Wants To Be A Superhero? It was a campy reality show where every day people could act on their secret desire to be super. My favorite was Fat Momma with her belt of doughnuts. She wanted to help people who were down about themselves or being teased for being different.
Stan Lee’s character Spiderman had a special edition recently with a cartoon Barack Obama. The Inauguration Issue sold out quickly and has now gone into a second printing.

Okie Sister thinks the country could really use a new superhero in DC named Foreign Policy Woman.

In The News: Edward Vaughn, President of the Alabama NAACP made an arse of himself recently when he stated his objections to the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids being the only representation of the state in the upcoming inaugural parade. He, of course, preferred an all black group represent. He said the Maids remind him of slavery days and that their appearance would make Alabama a laughingstock. Little did he know that his racist comments were the only thing being laughed at.
The Azalea Maids are fifty senior girls from Mobile County who must have a high academic record and knowledge of state history, landmarks, and current events. It should be noted that this is a racially integrated group of ladies. They represent their state at many events wearing period costumes representing the colors of the Azaleas that line Mobile’s streets. The reason they picked this particular time period is because they feel it represents Southern Hospitality.
Fiddle-dee-dee. I don't no nothin' 'bout being a maid. I'd like to be a southern belle, but only if I can portray this one.

 

NASCAR: Only 20 more days until the Budweiser Shootout in Daytona, the official start of the 2009 racing season. Four extra cars will be in this year’s race, all wildcard picks. No doubt one will be Tony Stewart in the new Stewart-Haas Office Depot - Old Spice car.

Sister Sightings (12)

Tech Stuff: I’m loving me some Google Reader these days. I finally discovered enough blogs that I enjoy reading, that I had to get them all organized on one page. I was very jealous of Bloggers feature of updating their blogrolls. “Don’t know if this here TypePad has that ability or not. If it does, I reckon I ain’t figured out how.” I picked this particular reader because Hubby and I already have a shared calendar on Google.

Okiedoke is hosting the annual Okie Blog Awards. Oklahoma bloggers can nominate and vote on their favorite Oklahoma blogs. The site has links to many fellow Okie bloggers.

TV Alert: What could possibly make me watch Barbara Walters? The Swayze. Yep, Patrick Swayze in his first interview since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Wednesday night ABC will air “Barbara Walters Special - Patrick Swayze: The Truth.”
I wonder if she will ask him important questions like, “What kind of tree would you be?” Can you tell I’m not a big fan of the Ba-Ba Wa-Wa? I used to be. I think it has something to do with that awful The View show. I’ve never been able to watch that mess. A major pet peeve of mine is over-talking, which these ladies do all the time. If everyone talks at once, nobody can be heard. Which, for them, is no great loss. The show's concept was supposed to be different women with different points of view. In reality, it’s Elizabeth’s point of view against everyone else’s collective liberal point of view and one airhead that doesn’t have a point of view. Basically, I don’t relate to any of these women. They don’t represent me or anyone I know in lifestyle, morals or values. The end.

Racy News: Indy driver Danica Patrick ended the year as she began it, receiving another speeding ticket in Scottsdale, Arizona. Danica was clocked doing 54 in a 35 mph zone. She paid the $196 fine on Wednesday. The last ticket, for doing a whopping 57 in a 40 mph zone, sent the race car driver to traffic school, which Okie Sister finds extremely amusing. Wouldn’t a better punishment be to have her do community service and teach the defensive driving course? Or here’s another idea, maybe the Scottsdale police could stop targeting her Mercedes. Jealous much? Granted Danica shouldn’t be breaking any traffic laws, but don’t you think every cop in town knows who she is. She wouldn’t be a danger driving through your town at three times those speeds. Which she is NOT doing by the way. Maybe they just like pulling her over to talk to her.

 

Field Trip: The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will conduct “In Search of Eagles” interpretive programs for the general public during January and February 2009. Participants will be taken by bus into the Special Use Area, where they will search for bald and golden eagles. Bring your binoculars. Call the Visitor Center, (580) 429-2151, for dates and time.

 

In Memoriam: It was tragic news this week to hear of the passing of Kelly Preston and John Travolta’s son Jett. No parent should ever have to bury their child. I’m sure there will be a worldwide outpouring of love and condolences to this family. May that bring them some comfort at this time.

What do you possibly say to a grieving parent? No words come to mind that don’t sound like clichés. What about all the parents out there that don’t have adoring fans? How do they cope?

Locally, another sixteen year-old child died this week. Cache, OK high school student Paige Bivans was thrown from the pick-up truck she was traveling in when the seventeen year-old driver lost control while speeding down a rural road. Paige was the only one not wearing a seatbelt. Paige was an honor student, active in many school clubs, sports teams, and her local church group. She had worked this holiday season at the mall in Lawton as one of Santa’s elf. She was a beautiful young woman. Such a tragedy.

Count On Me

   

Speaking of genealogists, one of our most informative tools is the census record. Starting in 1790, the Constitution states that a census of the US population be taken every 10 years. The 1850 census is the first one where all the names of the family members are listed, not just the head of household. The 1890 census was destroyed in a fire at the Commerce Building in Washington DC in 1921. The 1930 census is the last one made available to the public. There is this code called the 72-year privacy law, so the 1940 census won’t be available until 2012.

The 2010 census will be taken on April 1st. Thousands of workers are needed to enumerate their fellow citizens. If you are interested in a temporary job, with flexible hours and paid training, check it out here. They are hiring in February, at $10 to $22 an hour depending on the region. Ability to speak other languages is a plus.

Being able to spell, write legibly, add and subtract, and put dittos in the correct place would also be helpful. Just look at my grandparents, Bert and Grace Adams, 1910 census record. Everything about it is wrong. They were 28 and 20 years old by the way, not in their 70's. The last entry was indexed as "Baby Birt."

Funny Money Found

Okay, remember the Saving Grace episode I told you about called "Do You Love Him?" It was the one were Barry Switzer appeared as himself. He was also a former owner of Grace’s car.
From the TNT website: "The door of Grace’s Porsche gets knocked off when a drunk driver slams into it, the impact letting loose thousands of dollars in cash that had been hidden by a previous owner.... The investigation eventually entails a murdered highway patrol officer and a wealthy developer."

Well this stuff only happens on a make believe television show, right? Or does it?

Foreign Money, IDs Found In Car
By Malinda Rust, staff writer
Lawton Constitution
December 17, 2008
Lawton police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tuesday morning to help them determine why a local businessman found a bag containing foreign currency and multiple ID cards was discovered inside the door panel of a Fort Sill soldier’s vehicle.
According to an LPD report, a worker at The Glass Doctor, 7 NW 2nd, was changing or installing the glass on the driver’s side window sometime between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. when he found a “suspicious bag” behind a door panel and called police. The officer came to the scene, retrieved it and entered it into the property log at the station, the report said.
LPD Capt. Will Hines confirmed that the FBI was called in to assist officers, but neither were able to provide a conclusion Tuesday evening as to where the bag, containing money and IDs, could have come from or who left it there.
Dave Porter, owner and operator of Glass Doctor, said in his three years of running the business he has come across some strange items, but the black case was “probably one of the most intense.”
“There was just an enormous amount of Afghan cash and all different kinds of IDs,” Porter said. “They were all from the U.S., but they were from all different states, like I saw some from Texas. ... I was kind of scared to touch it after that.”
After finding the case, which Porter said resembled a small day planner and “had ‘terrorist’ written all over it,” he immediately called the vehicle owner, who is a soldier at Fort Sill. Porter asked him if he had just purchased the car because workers found something hidden in the door panel, and he had to call the police. The car owner said he was on his way, so Porter called the police.
“(The owner) said he did just buy it,” Porter said. “and I told him that was probably a good thing. ... Turns out the guy’s legit and the vehicle was traded somewhere in Dallas.”
Investigators spent the rest of the day trying to piece together the car’s history.
So what made Porter call the police?
“All the money, I mean, it was a lot,” he said. The money, which Porter said had huge numbers on the bills, appeared to be from Afghanistan. “There was a bunch of other things in there, like some prescriptions, but I didn’t want to thumb through all that stuff. It shocked me. ... He was a military guy, which I immediately thought ‘spy,’ but your mind just starts racing when you find something like that.”
Investigators came to pick the car up for further analysis and to search the rest of the car, Porter said. If anyone knows anything about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at 355-INFO.

Lights, Camera, Action

Today’s Election Day again at our house. If you live in Ward 6 or Ward 8 of Lawton, you need to get out and Rock The Vote. I suspect about 300 people might turn out in each ward. That will be about 10% of those who voted last month. Unless it snows today as predicted, then it will be considerably lower. Somehow city elections are not very important to people. Don’t understand this because the city representatives and the actions they take effect the citizens more closely than anything else.

Hey, you know the old saying, "If you don’t vote, then you can’t complain." If only that were true. I’ll leave the politics to other members of the family, because it involves public speaking. Okie Sister doesn’t speak in front of groups. It’s called stage fright and involves nausea. This is why I attempt to write; it’s my outlet of expression.

I’ve told you before that I’m also self diagnosed borderline agoraphobic. It’s not that I don’t enjoy getting out of my house; it just takes too much effort to get ready and out the door. And I’m low maintenance! I don’t spend hours in front of the mirror primping. It’s a mental preparedness that takes so long for me. I think I’m part bear too, because it’s turning colder and I’m wanting to go into hibernation mode until Spring. I hate being cold.

Sunday, I did venture out and attend a photography exhibit at the Museum of the Great Plains, "Santa Fe, Through the Lens of Friends." Three local women are displaying photos they shot while traveling together. It was very nice work; they really captured the colors of the region. Hubby disappeared after I stood and admired one picture a little too long. I had commented that it was my favorite. He had slipped off to buy it for me. Later while speaking with the photographer, she mentioned that it was her favorite shot. Can’t show it to you yet, as it will be on display through January. But it looks something like the first one on the Museum’s website. The one with the dark clouds.

After the opening, we drove out to Medicine Park and ate at the Winery of the Wichitas, or WOW for short. Hubby’s upset that someone is using this acronym because he’s dreamed of using it one day for his hotdog restaurant, World of Wieners. Wow!

Anyway, A Broad Abroad just wrote about this restaurant on her blog and I was anxious to check it out. No pictures from there either because it was evening and the lights were very dim. I’ll go back in the daytime and report again. The food was worth the drive.

Our evening ended with a drive through Elmer Thomas Park to look at the Christmas lights. They have horse drawn carriage rides through there. And no, I don’t have picture of the lights either because it was dark and we were in motion which made them look like this.

Pardon Me ... for a Short History Lesson

I've been watching with anticipation to see who our current President might pardon before he leaves office in January. Remember the shocking list Clinton turned in on his last day? So far, Bush's picks seem about average. However, were crimes of eagle killing, bank fraud and drug use what the pardon was designed to absolve.

 

What was the original purpose of the Presidential Pardon? From Alexander Hamilton's Federalist Papers No. 74, "in seasons of insurrection or rebellion, there are often critical moments, when a well timed offer of pardon to the insurgents or rebels may restore the tranquility of the commonwealth; and which, if suffered to pass unimproved, it may never be possible afterwards to recall" The Framers of the Constitution envisioned the pardon power as having a narrow purpose in times of war and rebellion. The President might offer pardons to rebellious factions as an inducement for a laying down of arms and national reconciliation.

 

The Presidential Pardon has been used toward that goal. George Washington pardoned leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion, John Adams pardoned soldiers who had deserted during the Revolutionary War, Andrew Johnson pardoned thousands of former Confederate officials and military personnel after the American Civil War, and Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to Vietnam-era draft evaders. (not deserters or protestors)

 

But at some point things got out of hand.

 

 

So, an 1893 law gave the power to review and make recommendations to the President on pardons to the Department of Justice. In 1981, another law created the Office of the Pardon Attorney. "The Pardon Attorney will consider only petitions from persons who have completed their sentences and, in addition, have demonstrated their ability to lead a responsible and productive life for a significant period after conviction or release from confinement."
I can think of some people who have been pardoned and have gone on to positively contribute to society and others who have gone on to commit more crimes.

 

From Wikipedia: "Many pardons have been controversial; critics argue that pardons have been used more often for the sake of political expediency than to correct judicial error. One of the more famous recent pardons was granted by President Gerald Ford to former President Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974, for official misconduct which gave rise to the Watergate scandal. Other controversial uses of the pardon power include, George H.W. Bush's pardons of 75 people, including six Reagan administration officials, accused and/or convicted in connection with the Iran-Contra affair, and Bill Clinton's pardons of convicted FALN terrorists and 140 people on his last day in office - including billionaire fugitive Marc Rich."

 

Clinton was almost indicted for Rich's pardon, one of the 459 pardons he issued during his two terms. Rich had fled to Switzerland to avoid prosecution on tax evasion to the tune of $48 million. Also noteworthy is the fact that the Democratic Party received a $1 million donation and the Clinton library received a $450,000 donation from Rich's ex-wife Denise. She is said to have visited the White House the night before the pardon was granted.
Clinton pardoned several at the request of Hillary's brother, lawyer Hugh Rodham. Rodham later was found to have been paid to act on their behalf.
Clinton also pardoned his brother Roger on cocaine charges and Patty Hearst from all that SLA mess. (Carter had previously commuted her sentence.)

 

Carter pardoned Peter Yarrow of the group Peter, Paul and Mary and co-writer of "Puff, the Magic Dragon." He pled guilty to "taking immoral and improper liberties" with two minors.
Carter also pardoned G. Gordon Liddy for his part in Watergate.

Kennedy pardoned hundreds convicted under the Narcotics Act of 1956. Ford pardoned Iva Ikoku Toguri, aka "Tokyo Rose", Nixon pardoned former head of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa and Reagan pardoned former NY Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner.

Will President Bush pardon Martha Stewart or Olympian Marion Jones? The Texas border control guards who shot a Mexican drug runner and subsequently covered it up? How about Alaska Senator Ted Stevens?

Bush just pardoned John Edward Forte who co-wrote two Fugees' songs. He was convicted on cocaine charge. Also pardoned was Leslie Collier, a farmer from Missouri who killed bald eagles while trying to eliminate coyotes with poisonous hamburger meat.

 

So, the bottom line here is: the President can pardon anyone he wants to, no matter what crime they may or may not have committed; he doesn't have to follow the recommendation of the Pardon Attorney; pardons are far from the original purpose of restoring the country during war or rebellion.
Interesting too, is the fact that we are currently living during a time of war and the most anticipated action is to see if President Bush preemptively pardons those involved in, or who authorized, harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists.

 

Of course, there is one Presidential pardon we can always count on this time of year.

 

 

 

 

One final thought: if you accidentally kill an American eagle, you go to jail, but those who purposely burn our American flag are allowed to roam free. Pardon me, but I think that's just wrong.

I Owe, I Owe, So off to work I go

So if Citibank and Bank of America hadn’t been bailed out, what would have happened to all the credit card debt? Could it have disappeared as well?

Imagine, if every person in America no longer owed the average credit card debt of $16,635.

What could they do instead with those payments. Maybe afford their health insurance premiums? Send their kids to college? Afford food, electricity and gasoline? Just a thought here.

But instead the government, using our tax dollars, bailed out these failed corporations. I was curious to know what each one of us taxpaying citizens are contributing to that Trillion dollar bailout package.

2.25 trillion divided by approx. 138 million taxpayers = $16,304.

Well, isn’t that an interesting number? One more day of this bailout stuff and they're going to start owing me money.

Estimates are the bailout could reach as much as 4 to 6 Trillion before its all over with. This is what 6 Trillion looks like folks $6,000,000,000,000.

Maybe America should start using its powers for good, not evil.

Man Gets Panties... In A Bunch

….Of Trouble.

A Lawton man is going to jail after he was spotted stuffing women’s underwear down his pants at Kmart Tuesday night. The suspect also pilfered a sporty man's thong for himself. The “responsible” young man did stop and pick up some contraceptives before leaving for his planned romantic encounter.
Instead he was “encountered” by security in the parking lot. The man took the items “for my girl, I was thinking about her,” the 26 year-old said.

I’m sure he was. My PSA: Some agencies, like the health department, give contraceptives out for free. No stealing involved.

To my Okie Sisters in Idabel: If you are thinking “Honeymoon,” I’m right there with you!

Sister Sightings (11)

Girl Power: Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as head of the Army’s supply arm, making her the first female four star general in the U.S. Army.
"I am very honored but also very humbled today with this announcement," said Dunwoody. "I grew up in a family that didn't know what glass ceilings were. This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career...that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform."
"There is no one more surprised than I - except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, 'Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.'"
What you might not know is that Dunwoody began her career right here at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. We Okies salute you ma’am.

Local News: Central Baptist Church (where Okie Sister met Hubby back in the 70’s) recently made plans to open a new learning academy at their church. Does this private school, Trinity Christian Academy, constitute a new use of said facility? That was the question that was put before building inspectors, the fire marshal, a slew of lawyers, and finally the city council this week. When an agreement could not be reached, the church was left to proceed with said plans for their school. Meaning, they do not have to install all the upgraded FIRE SAFETY measures suggested.
Fire Marshal Mark Mitchell said he had several concerns when he did a walk-through inspection over the summer, including corridors that pull air - and, potentially, smoke - through the building and an interior construction of combustible timber.
A church representative previously stated they didn’t have the money to make any upgrades. They have reportedly purchased several new smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for the education wing.
What was bizarre about all this, is pastor Keith Miles’s statement that he doesn’t think the city is correct in “inserting” itself into the church’s ministry. Max Sasseen, church board member, said church members were “amazed” the city would put itself in a position to judge what subjects would be taught in the classroom. Subjects? Huh?
What’s that got to do with the price of VBS Kool-aid in China?
I’m pretty sure the city’s only concern is that the students don’t end up trapped inside a burning building. But way to deflect guys, because accidents never happen...

I had just mentioned that Lawton is expanding with new housing additions. Yesterday at one of those construction sites, a 29 year-old man was trapped when a trench he was laying new sewer lines in, began to collapse around him. Local emergency personnel, (fire, police, public works) along with specialist from OKC, worked for 12 hours to free him from the 13 foot deep hole.
Reminded me of little Baby Jessica caught in that Midland, Texas well so many years ago. My own Texas baby daughter was only a few months older at the time.
This story has a good outcome as well. The worker, Alex Cabrera, is in stable condition with no broken bones at an OKC hospital.* The newspaper made note that Cabrera did not speak much English.
I’m sure there will be a full investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
Okie Sister asks, is this the same housing addition that Toby Keith and Barry Switzer are investors in?

Tech News: The FCC recently okayed use of unlicensed portions of the television airwaves known as “white spaces” to deliver wireless broadband service. This would be another way besides telephone and cable to received Internet service. This was over objections from TV broadcasters who argued that this could disrupt their signals. I guess we will find out in February after the big switcheroo from analog to digital broadcasting.
I personally won’t be able to tell, since I already have DISRUPTION OF MY SIGNAL. The local ABC channel coming through my Dish Network breaks up into colorful pixilation blobs on a regular basis and often times the sound does not sync up, making me feel like I’m watching an old Kung Fu movie.
If not for Eli Stone and Dancing With The Stars, I wouldn’t even watch this dang channel. Dish Network informs me they are aware of the problem. Being aware is good...

Monkisms: An Australian woman says she will have nightmares for the rest of her life after abdominal surgery to remove her gall bladder. Rebecca Jones awoke just as the operation started. She felt every cut of the surgeon’s knife but she could not move or speak because she was paralyzed by the anesthesia.
"I was freaking out. Then I managed to move my hand and someone in the room noticed it. He said, 'she's just moved her hand'. But they kept going. I was trying to scream, to do anything"
In a written statement, the hospital conceded that Jones was “awake” but denied being AWARE she was suffering any pain.
“A study in March of this year found that as many as 30,000 American wake during surgery each year.” Holy Crap!

Elsewhere, Okie Sister recently had a traumatic nightmare about mold, after seeing a tiny spot of it near drain in sink.

ROTGLMAO: I happened to spy the Big Lots circular in today's newspaper. They have a new Online Deal of the Day which they are promoting with a colorful new cartoon character, “Anita Deal.” Hmmm...she looks really familiar.

*Update 12-19-18: Alex Cabrera suffered from crush syndrome and has since had both legs amputated below the knee. Another part of the story is that there was another worker in the trench when it collapsed. Cabrera help him escape and he immediately started digging Cabrera out.

This Is My Town

From the Business Week magazine article, The Best Places to Raise Your Kids 2009:

“We selected towns with at least 50,000 residents and a median family income between $40,000 and $100,000. We then narrowed the list of towns using the following weighted criteria: school performance; number of schools; household expenditures; crime rates; air quality; job growth; family income; museums, parks, theaters, and other amenities; and diversity. We weighted school performance and safety most heavily, but also gave strong weight to amenities and affordability”

The Oklahoma city selected this year is none other than Lawton. Runners up are Midwest City and Broken Arrow.

Reactions from Lawton as seen on KSWO TV:

Lawton Public School Superintendent Barry Beauchamp says the "Business Week" review is tremendous for the community, especially for the schools. "Certainly it's a real reflection of the fine teachers that we have," he said. "Schools are people, they're not buildings. They're students and teachers in the classroom, accomplishing the things that they need to be successful."

The rankings weighed school performance and safety heavily in the rankings. Researchers looked at the total crime risk. Lawton Police Chief Ronnie Smith says it matches his stats. "Crime is not that high in Lawton," he said. "We are taking care of what we do have, and we have statistics that prove crime is going down."

The rankings also considered the cost of living and job growth. Lawton's population continues to grow, bringing more companies and better jobs. "We've seen the average income of our households increase significantly over the past five or six years, and all of those things play a role in this being an affordable place to raise kids," said Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce President Dana Davis.

"It's high time that everybody knew what we knew," said Ward 8 Lawton City Councilmember Randy Warren. "We've known for a long time that this is a good place to live and raise your kids, and it's time that that message gets out to the rest of the world."

Okie Sister’s reaction is one of great pride. I feel that it’s the citizens that make this town so great. We have enormous civic pride and we support our military base and our veterans. That is one of the reasons so many retire to this area.

Lawton is a clean city. It is growing and prospering with new businesses locating here and new housing additions being built. To be recognized on a national level is a great bragging point to prospective companies looking to located in SW OK.

The kids would probably say that there is nothing to do here. However, if they are safe on the streets and getting a quality education, that means more in the long run than being entertained at amusement parks and such. To be able to breath clean air, and have outdoor recreation areas, are things you don’t fully appreciate unless you are without them.

Back to Reality After the Election

Oklahoma’s own American Idol, Carrie Underwood, says she keeps her political endorsements to herself. “I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate,” she said. “It’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions.” Carrie said she would never want “anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to.”

Former Survivor contestant Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who campaigned for the McCain / Palin ticket, pledged her support for the new president-elect on Wednesday’s The View. She was promptly criticized for doing this. Okie Sister “gets it” Elizabeth; it’s called patriotism. Perhaps others could learn a lesson from her or Senator John McCain after his gracious concession speech.

"We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America." - To find out who this quote belongs to, read this Wall Street Journal opinion piece by a former lawyer for the John Kerry election team.

And finally, I asked this question a few days ago, “Does the person who spends the most money on their campaign win?” And apparently the answer is a resounding “Yes”.

Okie Sister Gets A Pat On The Noggin

Okie Sister got listed in the Oklahoma Magazine article “75 Great Oklahoma Websites.”

Hear that, “I’m Grrrreat!” Who knew?

Thank you to the readers of the magazine and my fellow bloggers who listed me as one of their favorite OK blogs. You humble me. I hope that something I’ve written has amused you in some small way.

You are laughing with me, right?

The November issue features American Idol David Cook on the cover. He was always a favorite of mine. David’s self-titled debut CD is being released November 18th.

 

Vote For Randy Warren

This is my one public political endorsement for this election. For the Oklahoma State House of Representatives District 62, I fully endorse Randy Warren.

Randy Warren is the Democratic challenger for the seat currently held by Republican TW Shannon.
Shannon, a business consultant, first won this seat two years ago. Which by the way, is the last time I actually saw Mr. Shannon, when he was running for this office the first time. He has been spotted in Lawton a few times since he started running for re-election; most notably during a confrontation with a constituent at Wal-Mart on Friday. Shannon has a reputation in Lawton for allegedly not showing up. Having attended numerous city functions, I can only say for sure that I’ve never seen him at any event in this city for the past two years. There was even a candidate forum scheduled for last week that had to be canceled because Shannon wasn’t going to be there. When asked what he would be doing during re-election. “We will be at all the community events as we always do,” TW Shannon on KSWO TV’s Meet the Candidates.

Randy Warren, on the other hand, is a representative who shows up. He has dutifully served the citizens of Ward 8 in west Lawton for 10 years as their City Councilman. He served two years as the Mayor Pro-Tem representing the city at many functions and ceremonies throughout Lawton, Ft. Sill and at the state capital. When the Neighborhood Watch members have a meeting, Warren shows up. When the Veterans are being honored, Warren shows up. When our soldiers are being deployed or are returning from battle, Warren shows up. When the city holds the Cops and Kids picnic, Warren shows up. When Crime Stoppers holds the Moonlight Walk Against Drug, Warren shows up. When investors come to town and want to look at prospective business locations, Warren shows them around on his own time. The list goes on and on.

These two candidates have vastly differing views of the city and state.
Shannon was quoted in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper, “I represent my constituents and my district first and foremost. But I also took an oath to serve all of Oklahoma, and sometimes you have to see what the needs are of people in Guymon to understand how your district fits into the overall scheme of things.”
I have two problems with this statement. First, comparing Guymon and Lawton is like comparing apples to grapefruit. Lawton is uniquely different from Guymon, Oklahoma. Lawton population 93,000 has Fort Sill, home of the United States Army Field Artillery School. With the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) expansion, Lawton will be home to 10,000 new residents over the next few months. Lawton has Goodyear Tire Plant, Republic Paper Company, Bar-S Processing Plant, Cameron University, Lawton Area Transit System and Lawton-Ft Sill Regional Airport. Lawton is located in SW OK on the I-44 corridor. Guymon, population 11,000, is located in the panhandle of the state. It has oil wells, agricultural industries and a hog processing plant. (No offense Guymon, if you have more industry in your city, you should get the word out on your website.)
Secondly, "Who does Shannon represent?" He was not elected by the good folks in Guymon Oklahoma. They have their own representative. Shannon was elected by the citizens in west Lawton to represent and fight for their needs. Shannon believes what’s good for Oklahoma is good for Lawton.

Warren, a business owner in Lawton for over 20 years, believes what’s good for Lawton is good for Oklahoma. He was quoted in the Lawton Constitution, “Legislators in Oklahoma City haven’t done enough to help Lawton and Southwest Oklahoma prepare for BRAC.” He is tired of the trickle down effect from the state legislature that puts Lawton’s needs last on the list. He thinks we can’t afford to take Fort Sill for granted and need to show our support for the base, as we would for any other major industry wanting to do business in our city and hire thousands of workers. Warren in the Daily Oklahoman, “I've looked at our city's CIP (Capital Improvements Program) for roadwork, sewage, water lines. You know how much we've gotten from the state? A little more than $1 million. That's it. I know my opponent only has one vote, but he should be standing on a table, waving his hands and screaming to get somebody's attention.” (I should mention this figure may actually be inflated or these funds may have all been provided by the federal government for planning purposes only.)

Shannon lists as an accomplishment the millions he has secured for the BRAC expansion. Shannon can promise the citizens of Lawton the moon and the stars, but until the money actually appears, it’s just a lot of empty promises.

Shannon also claims he obtained $50,000 for Lawton’s Gang Task Force. The city is unable to locate these funds. Shannon had previously stated, “An annual amount of $1.4 million would be required to address the gang issue statewide.” Lawton is the fourth largest city in the state behind OKC, Tulsa and Norman. This amount of money hardly seems like an appropriate share, in my opinion, even if we would have received it.

Warren is also concerned with the gang activity in Lawton. He has actually ridden along with the gang task force in order to see first hand what these brave and dedicated police officers are up against. He found this to be a valuable experience and useful information to have in order to fight for funding for this important safety issue within our city. While on council, Warren has been instrumental in putting more police officers on Lawton streets.

Randy Warren is a proud member of the NRA and a strong defender of the second amendment. He support Oklahoma’s Stand Your Ground Law that protects your right to defend your family.

Warren was co-chair of the committee that lead to the combining of the city, county and Ft. Sill 911 dispatch, resulting in saving the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of future dollars by ending duplication of services, while providing a safer and faster emergency system for the citizens.

Randy Warren has been endorsed by the Lawton Fire Fighters. “As the public safety candidate, Randy Warren will work hard to make sure that our government protects the men and women who protect our families and home.” “Randy Warren’s commitment to public safety and his work ethic will be a major asset that will keep Lawton and Oklahoma moving forward.” - Pete Martin, President Lawton Fire Fighters

TW Shannon went on a tour of the Lawton Correctional Facility this month to see first hand how private prisons can save taxpayer dollars. He said in the Tulsa Beacon, “It’s an eye-opening experience to learn how well some of our private prisons are operated. Private prisons place far less burden on the public and increase safety among our prison employees and within our communities. I’m very encouraged by what I learned and I think we have an opportunity to use these lessons to move our state forward and improve our correctional system as a whole.”
Way to get on the band wagon Mr. Shannon.

Councilman Randy Warren fought for this facility to be established in Lawton over 10 years ago. He spearheaded the annexation of the property into the city limits of Lawton after the county commissioners failed to approve the prison. He had the foresight back then to see that if the state was not going to build it’s own prison system, this private prison could benefit our city and state while saving taxpayers dollars.

When discussing Shannon, let’s also not forget this disturbing matter from last December. TW Shannon was one of the state legislators who attended a fund raiser for Mike Huckabee at the Dallas estate of Gene and Roxanne Phillips. Phillips was once tried and acquitted on federal racketeering charges stemming from allegations he was illegally paying off union officials and mobsters. Questions were raised after Phillips and his associates presented gifts to insurance commissioner Carroll Fisher. This matter went before a grand jury but Phillip’s attorney was successful in blocking him from appearing. Fisher left office under controversy before the end of his term and later went to prison for embezzlement.
From the Tulsa World article "Free meals top lobbyists gifts to Oklahoma lawmakers", “Lobbyist Bill Case, a former legislator, spent $142.77 on transportation and snacks on each of seven Republican House lawmakers to take them to a fund raiser for GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee in December at the Dallas home of businessman Gene Phillips. Phillips allegedly bribed Carroll Fisher when Fisher was Oklahoma’s Insurance Commissioner.”
Several Oklahoma legislators returned campaign donations from Phillips and his family. To me Shannon showed a lack of judgment attending this event.

Just this past week I looked at TW Shannon’s campaign contribution reports (these can be seen online) and I noted the long list of PAC money and Oklahoma City contributors.
Again I ask, “Who does Shannon represent?”
By the way Shannon received the most tribal money of any Republican in the state according to Tulsa World newspaper. “Shannon, a Chickasaw citizen, received $17,000 from Indian tribes during a two-year period. This tribe has been deeply involved in negotiating tobacco and gambling contracts with the state in recent years.”
I can tell you that some of Shannon’s campaign money was spend on this enormous billboard statically placed one block from my home.

When elected, Randy Warren wants to see Nick’s Law passed to give support to children with Autism. The law requires health insurance policies to cover diagnosis, treatment and therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. The law passed the Oklahoma Senate on bipartisan votes on four separate occasions in 2008. Each time, House Republican leaders would not allow the proposal even to be considered by representatives. TW Shannon is the assistant majority whip.

Randy Warren has been endorsed by the Oklahoma Independent Political Caucus. “We need to be focused on the people, not the party.”  Randy Warren said on KSWO TV’s Meet The Candidates.
“I have a personal and business investment in our community. I care above all about our community. I know the needs of our community. I have no larger aspiration than to work for the betterment of the citizens of our district and community. District 62 and Lawton deserve personal, accessible representation all year long not just during the election cycle. I will provide that voice for the citizens.” - Randy Warren from ElectOK.

TW Shannon is purportedly looking to run for a higher office when a seat becomes available.

 

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.....