My wife: Our world seemed to come to an end before and we survived. Things will turn out all right.
Me: Yeah, but how many times does our world have to end before things ever get better for us?
A cruel April 1st that isn't a joke: We have to find an affordable place, get all the deposits paid, and get moved by the end of the month.
Oh yeah, and I still have to work while making this all magically happen.
Do you know how hard it is sometimes to stand in front of a group of young people (college students, in my case) and act as if the world is not crashing down, and speak convincingly that once they are out in the "real world" that they will be in control of their own destinies?
Yes, I will survive. Again. Probably have even more gray hair when it's all said and done.
So if you see me around town in the next few weeks and I look stressed a bit, I probably am.
But I'm pretty good at hiding these things. I guess I have the soul of a clown.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Daycation 2014, Part One - Meersburgers
During Spring Break this year, we really couldn't afford a full-blown vacation.
However, I was able to take my youngest two on a daycation - a one-day excursion to a place where they'd never been, and which I hoped they would enjoy. Our destination: Meers, Oklahoma - population 6 or so (it was up to 12 when I was a kid, but it's dwindled).
Why the heck would I go to such a tiny place? It has only one building - a combo store/restaurant. In more populated (when there were 12 folks) times there was also a post office in the building. It does still have a seismograph, but I don't think that has worked for awhile.
We went there for the famous "Meersburger," a generous (about 7"in diameter) grass-fed Longhorn beef burger served in a metal pan that looks like an old-timey gold pan (not a coincidence, since Meers began it's life as a gold-mining town in the early years of the 20th century, before Oklahoma was a state). I believe the Food Network included the Meersburger in one of their shows on the best burgers in America.
For me, though, Meers brings back memories of my childhood. Every now and then we'd go to Meers, located in the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma and have a burger which was always a special treat - especially at times when the meat came from American Buffalo instead of Longhorn. I wanted my kids to experience the awesomeness (I hoped) that I remembered from so long ago.
It's about a 3-hour drive, including potty breaks, from Stillwater and I regaled my kids with stories from the family journeys I had as a kid. My grandparents lived in Lawton, which is a short drive south of the Wichitas.
When we got to Meers, there was already a line of hungry people waiting outside. It took about an hour to get to the door, and another half-hour wait once we were inside.
It was worth the wait, though. Jessica and I each got a Meersburger, Cowboy style (lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, and mustard) and Tyler ordered a Seismic burger - 16 ounces of meat with all the fixin's plus jalapeño slices. It was a delicious meal and we were too full for dessert (apparently their home-made ice cream is quite a delight, too).
If you choose to go there, be sure to take cash. They don't take credit cards, and local checks might be accepted (I didn't ask how local was "local"). They have modernized since I was a kid and they do have an ATM inside if you forget your cash.
Despite the wait to be seated, we never felt rushed during our meal (you know how some restaurants can be - trying to get their customers finished so they can seat more?). And after we finished eating, we had more fun in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, which I'll write about soon.
However, I was able to take my youngest two on a daycation - a one-day excursion to a place where they'd never been, and which I hoped they would enjoy. Our destination: Meers, Oklahoma - population 6 or so (it was up to 12 when I was a kid, but it's dwindled).
Why the heck would I go to such a tiny place? It has only one building - a combo store/restaurant. In more populated (when there were 12 folks) times there was also a post office in the building. It does still have a seismograph, but I don't think that has worked for awhile.
We went there for the famous "Meersburger," a generous (about 7"in diameter) grass-fed Longhorn beef burger served in a metal pan that looks like an old-timey gold pan (not a coincidence, since Meers began it's life as a gold-mining town in the early years of the 20th century, before Oklahoma was a state). I believe the Food Network included the Meersburger in one of their shows on the best burgers in America.
For me, though, Meers brings back memories of my childhood. Every now and then we'd go to Meers, located in the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma and have a burger which was always a special treat - especially at times when the meat came from American Buffalo instead of Longhorn. I wanted my kids to experience the awesomeness (I hoped) that I remembered from so long ago.
It's about a 3-hour drive, including potty breaks, from Stillwater and I regaled my kids with stories from the family journeys I had as a kid. My grandparents lived in Lawton, which is a short drive south of the Wichitas.
When we got to Meers, there was already a line of hungry people waiting outside. It took about an hour to get to the door, and another half-hour wait once we were inside.
It was worth the wait, though. Jessica and I each got a Meersburger, Cowboy style (lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, and mustard) and Tyler ordered a Seismic burger - 16 ounces of meat with all the fixin's plus jalapeño slices. It was a delicious meal and we were too full for dessert (apparently their home-made ice cream is quite a delight, too).
If you choose to go there, be sure to take cash. They don't take credit cards, and local checks might be accepted (I didn't ask how local was "local"). They have modernized since I was a kid and they do have an ATM inside if you forget your cash.
Despite the wait to be seated, we never felt rushed during our meal (you know how some restaurants can be - trying to get their customers finished so they can seat more?). And after we finished eating, we had more fun in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, which I'll write about soon.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Everything is Just Ducky!
Yep, that's me. With a goofy grin on my face.
Earlier this semester, I let time slip away from me and was 25 minutes late to class. My class. The one I teach.
It was a weird experience. The campus seemed deserted, even though it was a very pleasant Fall day. When I got into the Classroom Building (Really! We have a building named "Classroom Building" here) I noticed that the halls were nearly deserted. It was 2:20 in the afternoon and there should have been students and faculty scurrying about as classes let out and before the next classes began.
Something was wrong. My first thought was that somebody had pulled the fire alarm and everybody was outside waiting for the all-clear. But there weren't that many people outside as I had approached the building.
I made it upstairs to my classroom, noting other classes were filled as I walked down the hall.
Then I walked into my classroom, looking at my watch and noticing that it was not quite 2:30pm.
Hold the phone! 2:30!?!?! This was my day for my 2:00 class, not 2:30!
Of course, nobody waited around long enough to see if I was going to show up. I don't blame them. I was a student once and there was a kind of rule of thumb that you only stick around so many minutes if the professor was late and then assume he (or she - but for some reason it was never a she in my case) was not going to show up, then leave.
I could insert an excuse like "but then my Astrid app was bought out by Yahoo and dumped so my favorite to-do app that kept me on time for everything was no more," but I won't use that as an excuse.
I vowed to not let it happen again.
Fast forward to today - the end of the semester.
I was gleefully filling my little Christmas bucket (it's okay to mention Christmas on the Cyberwebs, right?) with candy canes to hand out in class today. It's the last day of my class for these students, and, being Dead Week at OSU, the only new material I had for them was candy.
Then I decided to put my Christmas Ducky bow tie on, so I went down the hall from my office to the restroom to make sure the tie was reasonable straight.
I came back to my office, where I had Christmas music playing on my Kindle Fire and I saw a post online that the Annual Stillwater Christmas Parade was canceled. What?!
After the shock wore off (I mean, they've held the parade in colder weather and when it was actually snowing!), I put my bucket in my backpack, grabbed my textbook, and went to class, blissfully unaware of the time.
I walked outside into the late Fall crispy cold air and noticed that there weren't very many people out and about. But it was a pretty chilly day.
I think I counted about three dozen snowflakes blowing around before I reached the Classroom Building. Certainly not enough to cancel a parade. Yeah, I'm a grown-up, but I still love parades!
Deja vu struck as I noticed the halls of the Classroom Building were noticeably empty. I walked up the stairs to the third floor and glanced at my watch - 2:25pm. Not a problem.
Whoops! It's Thursday. I am late for my 2:00 class. Again.
I chuckled as I walked into the empty room. I wrote an apology on the class web page, and uploaded my final PowerPoint presentation - three slides, wishing them good luck and congratulations to those graduating this Fall.
Apparently I don't always learn from my mistakes.
But I have plenty of candy canes. And a Ducky bow tie.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Something to Add to My To Don't List
I learned a couple of things today.
I enjoy donating blood at blood drives. I also like to joke around. I found that there is at least one time when I shouldn't joke at a blood drive.
Everything had gone smoothly. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) even made it easier by making the pre-donation questions available online.
One small hiccup, which was my fault, was that my heart-rate was 105 when I got there. I had run up four flights of stairs to go donate in the OSU Student Union's Starlight Terrace. A guy needs exercise, right? I had to sit and wait for a few minutes until my heart slowed down to normal.
The first to add to my To Don't List: When going to give blood, don't run up stairs or you'll have to sit, negating the time you thought you'd saved by getting there quickly.
My next opportunity to learn came when the lovely and talented OBI blood taker person was adjusting the rubber hose thingy that connects the big needle in the vein to the bags that catch the blood. You see, I was joking with the OBI people and just as the gal was getting ready to tape the tubing to my arm, I made her giggle. Not only did she giggle, but she jiggled. The needle. Ouch!
The second thing to add to my To Don't List: After they poke you with the needle, don't crack jokes before all the tubing is secured to your arm.
I hope I remember these things in a couple of months when I'm eligible to donate again.
I enjoy donating blood at blood drives. I also like to joke around. I found that there is at least one time when I shouldn't joke at a blood drive.
Everything had gone smoothly. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) even made it easier by making the pre-donation questions available online.
One small hiccup, which was my fault, was that my heart-rate was 105 when I got there. I had run up four flights of stairs to go donate in the OSU Student Union's Starlight Terrace. A guy needs exercise, right? I had to sit and wait for a few minutes until my heart slowed down to normal.
The first to add to my To Don't List: When going to give blood, don't run up stairs or you'll have to sit, negating the time you thought you'd saved by getting there quickly.
My next opportunity to learn came when the lovely and talented OBI blood taker person was adjusting the rubber hose thingy that connects the big needle in the vein to the bags that catch the blood. You see, I was joking with the OBI people and just as the gal was getting ready to tape the tubing to my arm, I made her giggle. Not only did she giggle, but she jiggled. The needle. Ouch!
The second thing to add to my To Don't List: After they poke you with the needle, don't crack jokes before all the tubing is secured to your arm.
I hope I remember these things in a couple of months when I'm eligible to donate again.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Drunk Naked Guy (Don't Be A Party Pooper)
DISCLAIMER: You may find this horrifying and/or amusing, but I really hope the person gets some help.
I was working at a football game recently as part of the event staff. Our jobs include helping to enforce the policies of the venue, and working toward helping the fans have a positive experience.
Some fans, however, take things to an extreme, as was the case this time.
I was walking through the area of my responsibility when a fan came up to me. He seemed agitated and asked where the First Aid station was. It happened that we were actually pretty close to one of the First Aid posts, and we started walking toward it.
"What's the issue?" I asked.
"There's a guy passed out in the bathroom over there," he said, pointing at the restroom.
I noted the number of the bathroom, in case the First Aid people needed to record the incident.
We were getting closer to First Aid when a second person came up to me, having just left the restroom where the guy had passed out.
"There's a drunk guy passed out in a stall with the door locked!" he exclaimed, pointing at the restroom.
I started to hurry a bit, because this may mean more than one EHS (Environmental Safety and Health) would be needed.
I was almost at the First Aid door when a third fan came running up, saying, "There is a drunk guy passed out in the bathroom stall and he's naked!"
Now, I've reached the point where not only do I need to let EHS know, but the Command Post as well, because this might require police presence.
I got on the radio and reported, "Lyndon to Command."
The reply, "Go for Command."
I said, trying to keep a straight face, "There's a drunk naked guy locked in a bathroom stall in bathroom number N100L." (I'm not sure if that's the right number, but I gave the correct number at the time.)
No reply for several seconds.
Finally, "Would you repeat that?"
Again, I struggled to keep a straight face as I repeated what happened and where. I realize that people often laugh at things that happen suddenly and are somewhat disturbing when given time to think about it. I really was trying not to laugh, but at the time, it wasn't easy.
The Command Post said, "You'll need to contact the PD as well."
Before I could relay the message, the OSU Police responded, "PD en route."
I went into the First Aid station and told them the same thing. They were already starting to come out of the door with a stretcher, but for someone who had passed out in the stadium.
The first quarter wasn't even over yet when all this happened.
Upon reflection, I know this whole event makes for a funny story. But it probably wasn't funny to the guy who had passed out.
Why was he naked? Well, he had made it into the bathroom stall just in time, but his bodily functions let loose before he could get situated properly. When the police got to him, he only had a pair of socks on, and his discarded shirt was clean enough to wrap around him as he was taken out, passed out, on a stretcher.
I'm all about having fun. But sometimes people go a bit beyond a good time, and face consequences that are pitiful and/or embarrassing.
I hope they guy is okay.
I hope he gets some help as well.
I was working at a football game recently as part of the event staff. Our jobs include helping to enforce the policies of the venue, and working toward helping the fans have a positive experience.
Some fans, however, take things to an extreme, as was the case this time.
I was walking through the area of my responsibility when a fan came up to me. He seemed agitated and asked where the First Aid station was. It happened that we were actually pretty close to one of the First Aid posts, and we started walking toward it.
"What's the issue?" I asked.
"There's a guy passed out in the bathroom over there," he said, pointing at the restroom.
I noted the number of the bathroom, in case the First Aid people needed to record the incident.
We were getting closer to First Aid when a second person came up to me, having just left the restroom where the guy had passed out.
"There's a drunk guy passed out in a stall with the door locked!" he exclaimed, pointing at the restroom.
I started to hurry a bit, because this may mean more than one EHS (Environmental Safety and Health) would be needed.
I was almost at the First Aid door when a third fan came running up, saying, "There is a drunk guy passed out in the bathroom stall and he's naked!"
Now, I've reached the point where not only do I need to let EHS know, but the Command Post as well, because this might require police presence.
I got on the radio and reported, "Lyndon to Command."
The reply, "Go for Command."
I said, trying to keep a straight face, "There's a drunk naked guy locked in a bathroom stall in bathroom number N100L." (I'm not sure if that's the right number, but I gave the correct number at the time.)
No reply for several seconds.
Finally, "Would you repeat that?"
Again, I struggled to keep a straight face as I repeated what happened and where. I realize that people often laugh at things that happen suddenly and are somewhat disturbing when given time to think about it. I really was trying not to laugh, but at the time, it wasn't easy.
The Command Post said, "You'll need to contact the PD as well."
Before I could relay the message, the OSU Police responded, "PD en route."
I went into the First Aid station and told them the same thing. They were already starting to come out of the door with a stretcher, but for someone who had passed out in the stadium.
The first quarter wasn't even over yet when all this happened.
Upon reflection, I know this whole event makes for a funny story. But it probably wasn't funny to the guy who had passed out.
Why was he naked? Well, he had made it into the bathroom stall just in time, but his bodily functions let loose before he could get situated properly. When the police got to him, he only had a pair of socks on, and his discarded shirt was clean enough to wrap around him as he was taken out, passed out, on a stretcher.
I'm all about having fun. But sometimes people go a bit beyond a good time, and face consequences that are pitiful and/or embarrassing.
I hope they guy is okay.
I hope he gets some help as well.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Thumb Drive Commando
Has the following ever happened to you?
You forgot to do laundry last night. In the morning, you realize that you have no clean underwear. You don't have time to wash and dry a load of clothes, and hand-washing a pair of boxer-briefs is not only unappealing, but the idea of using the microwave to dry them is possibly not a good idea (note to self: check out whether drying wet clothes in the microwave works - start small, like a sock).
What do you do?
You can wear your cleanest of your dirty underwear is one option.
The other option is to "go commando."
Going commando is not that bad of an option. Some guys do it regularly, some all the time. I have two sons, and the topic has come up among us as viable options when you can't find clean underwear because you didn't do the laundry when you should have.
Is it a guy thing?
I'm saying it is.
At least, I hope it is. I mean, I have a daughter, but I really don't want to know if she has ever had to go commando. That would send the train straight to TMI-ville, and I just don't want to go there.
When you go commando, unless you broadcast it to everybody, you're the only one who knows. If you don't go commando frequently, you remain somewhat self-conscious throughout the day because, well, you're not wearing any underwear. It really has no effect on your day. It's not like you have lucky underwear and without it bad things will happen. It's just that you know. You know?
Today is a day like that. I did have clean clothes to wear, so I'm good there. But when I got to work I realized my thumb drive was not in my pocket. It probably fell out while I was getting dressed. I know it's somewhere at home, so I'm not worried that I actually lost it.
But I don't have it with me today.
You need to understand - it has things on it - documents, presentations, quizzes, tests, articles, etc., that I use for my classes. Plus it has more - an entire suite of programs that make things easier no matter where I happen to be. I can go visit my folks and, if an awesome idea hits me, I can plug my thumb drive in and act on the idea. I can log in to all of the sites I visit regularly from that thumb drive.
But I don't have it with me today.
Nothing bad will happen. Nobody really needs to know that I don't have it (let's face it - this blog post will never get 7 billion hits). I'm ready for the classes I teach today, and nothing that I really have to have is on the thumb drive that I forgot.
Nobody knows.
Except I know.
I'm going thumb drive commando today.
And now you know, too.
You forgot to do laundry last night. In the morning, you realize that you have no clean underwear. You don't have time to wash and dry a load of clothes, and hand-washing a pair of boxer-briefs is not only unappealing, but the idea of using the microwave to dry them is possibly not a good idea (note to self: check out whether drying wet clothes in the microwave works - start small, like a sock).
What do you do?
You can wear your cleanest of your dirty underwear is one option.
The other option is to "go commando."
Going commando is not that bad of an option. Some guys do it regularly, some all the time. I have two sons, and the topic has come up among us as viable options when you can't find clean underwear because you didn't do the laundry when you should have.
Is it a guy thing?
I'm saying it is.
At least, I hope it is. I mean, I have a daughter, but I really don't want to know if she has ever had to go commando. That would send the train straight to TMI-ville, and I just don't want to go there.
When you go commando, unless you broadcast it to everybody, you're the only one who knows. If you don't go commando frequently, you remain somewhat self-conscious throughout the day because, well, you're not wearing any underwear. It really has no effect on your day. It's not like you have lucky underwear and without it bad things will happen. It's just that you know. You know?
Today is a day like that. I did have clean clothes to wear, so I'm good there. But when I got to work I realized my thumb drive was not in my pocket. It probably fell out while I was getting dressed. I know it's somewhere at home, so I'm not worried that I actually lost it.
But I don't have it with me today.
You need to understand - it has things on it - documents, presentations, quizzes, tests, articles, etc., that I use for my classes. Plus it has more - an entire suite of programs that make things easier no matter where I happen to be. I can go visit my folks and, if an awesome idea hits me, I can plug my thumb drive in and act on the idea. I can log in to all of the sites I visit regularly from that thumb drive.
But I don't have it with me today.
Nothing bad will happen. Nobody really needs to know that I don't have it (let's face it - this blog post will never get 7 billion hits). I'm ready for the classes I teach today, and nothing that I really have to have is on the thumb drive that I forgot.
Nobody knows.
Except I know.
I'm going thumb drive commando today.
And now you know, too.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
What Does It Mean? Part 1 (Probably)
We use words every day. It's part of the package of being human beings.
But I often find myself using words that I don't know the meaning of. (And yes, the previous sentence ended in a preposition - and I do know what "preposition" means).
I've found that by using an authoritative tone, I can bluff my way into word definitions that sound almost believable.
Today, for example, the conversation went like this:
Ty: What does "cul-de-sac" mean?
Me: It's French for "You're going the wrong way."
Ty: Really?
Jess: No. It means...It's a street..
Me: It's one of those streets that is closed off at the end, and there's a curvy part so you can turn around...
Jess: Yes!
Me: Because you're going the wrong way!
The three of us all at the same time:
Jess: NO!!
Ty: Really?
Me: Yes!
Jess: Don't listen to Dad.
Me: But how will you learn about alternative definitions?
I like being creative with my vocabulary.
But I often find myself using words that I don't know the meaning of. (And yes, the previous sentence ended in a preposition - and I do know what "preposition" means).
I've found that by using an authoritative tone, I can bluff my way into word definitions that sound almost believable.
Today, for example, the conversation went like this:
Ty: What does "cul-de-sac" mean?
Me: It's French for "You're going the wrong way."
Ty: Really?
Jess: No. It means...It's a street..
Me: It's one of those streets that is closed off at the end, and there's a curvy part so you can turn around...
Jess: Yes!
Me: Because you're going the wrong way!
The three of us all at the same time:
Jess: NO!!
Ty: Really?
Me: Yes!
Jess: Don't listen to Dad.
Me: But how will you learn about alternative definitions?
I like being creative with my vocabulary.
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