and then . . .

WEIRD DREAM WARNING!

It was night. I was sitting in a borrow pit (ditch to those of you who didn't grow up in the valley) with an old mexican style lap blanket I was trying to pull all around me because it was starting to get cold. I could get it around my shoulders but not to meet up in the middle and I was tugging and pulling as best I could when a car, dark in color - maybe the color of bondo, or dark grey matte spray paint. The headlights shone in my eyes blocking my vision of who ever was inside. A younger guy opens the door and is leaning into the crook in the door.

He says, "Hey, let me help you. I've been homeless before and I know how it feels to be where you are at."

Leery, I calmly ask him what time it is. He says he doesn't know. I tell him, "thank you for trying to help but I am ok, really."

He gets very angry that I have rejected his offer. Anyone who gets mad when you refuse their offer to help isn't there to help you. He gets into his car and slams the door. He yells out the window, "you have to do something about your hair, that's the only reason I saw you."

I know that my hair is platinum blond and I think seriously about what I might look like as a brunette. I look up at the moon and time passes. Next thing I am aware of is standing with Liz at the bus stop. (Liz is a woman who works in my HR department - if we were both homeless, I would want to be homeless around her, no matter what kind of day she is having she just has one of those personalities that makes you glad you saw her today.) At any rate, Liz and I get on the bus and it turns left into a little village area. I tell her and a third part of our party about what had happened the night before.

When I got to the part about asking the time a Liz asked, "What did he say?"

I told her, "He said he didn't know. I mean what self-respecting homeless person can't look at the moon and tell you exactly what time it is."

Since everything had changed (I don't know exactly what changed) it had become common to revert to the way things used to be before technology. I knew the guy was lying to me because it was a basic skill to know what time it was at night based on the distance between the moon and the north star. It was around 1 am. That man had intended to hurt me but I knew he wouldn't if I didn't get into his car.

I started formulating a plan. A plan to be able to use my apartment again. I had an apartment but I couldn't use it unless I paid the daily fee. Every third day or so (which was kind of the weekend) I would be able to get in to shower ect. I had a plan but I needed a roommate so I was trying to enlist the help of Liz. She didn't seem too keen on the idea. I appealed to her sense of safety and she gave me the "I'll think about it" brush off.

The bus stopped and everyone got off and went inside a dimly lit building. It was like going into a night club in the middle of the day. I was behind Liz and the other woman. An older gentleman caught my elbow and I started to just walk on by. He had a scraggly red and grey beard and the wiry red and grey hair to match. It was short, the beard that is. He did have a head full of hair but I knew he was older than that. I wasn't attracted to him, though I knew he was trying to get "that sort" of attention from me. I walked two steps past him and figured it wouldn't be a bad thing to have someone else buy my first drink.

I took the two steps back and said hello. He began, "I am a preacher from Slidell, Louisiana. My family isn't from there they are from Cody, Wyo." Instantly I knew he was my great, great uncle.

I told him, "Well then you need to stop talking to me right now for two reasons."

"Why is that?" he asked.

"Cody, Wyoming is a really small town and there ain't but one red headed family that's from there." Even as the words came out of my mouth I knew how 'old west' they sounded but it was one way to let him know I was familiar.

"How do you know that?" He asked.

I said, "and that would be the other reason, I am related to them." I immediately began trying to recall my mother's maiden name. The weird thing being the red headed part of the family didn't have her maiden family name but he knew who I was talking about when I finally blurted it out. I told him, "That'd make you my great, great uncle."

We started carrying on in the wake of an unexpected family reunion. As I left my uncle he hollered after me, "I'll send you a tropicana on your first tray." I went to sit with Liz and the other woman. I started to tell them what had just happened half expecting them to make fun of me for getting hit on by my own relative but they weren't responding to anything I was saying . . .

How are you liking Oklahoma? Part 3

A word about water in Oklahoma. Knowing that there isn't any natural body of water in Oklahoma it should come as no surprise that water conservation and water quality are two high priorities. The following picture was taken by one of my co-workers at the Watts WMA. It is part of a partnership program to bring even more fishing opportunities to the state. As a result of the land rush very little of Oklahoma is publicly owned. The only way to acquire new lands is for people to donate their properties back to public use. We will talk about how oil impacts decisions to donate land in a future post.

Back on water though . . .

We have pictures here at the office of most of the larger lakes in this state being "made". Oklahoma is a good place to study the engineering of waterways, if you are into that sort of thing. Managing water to sustain wildlife and managing riperian areas. If you are into those sort of things this is kind of an exciting place. It kind of makes me laugh though when I interview fisheries biologists who say such and such species is "not a native species to Oklahoma". I think to myself, "that would pretty much cover all Oklahoma fish species wouldn't it?" Nonetheless, I have seen species of fish that I wouldn't think would be fresh water oriented. Florida strain Largemouth Bass are the biggest sportfish to go after. I have also seen 75 lb catfish that men catch with their hands. (Noodlin' - never heard of it? That's ok because it is only legal in Oklahoma now anyway - google it it's worth the adventure). When you get to looking at a fish that size you realize that is a 75 lb muscle these guys are arm wrestling with. My friend Lesley, you wouldn't think it to look at her but she's a noodler too. That in addition to rattle snake hunter. This woman has amazing depth to her character.
I just thought I would throw in another land scape picture here. This is otherwise known as a mountainous area in Oklahoma. (In the east part of the state there are some actual mountains but it's not like your ears pop when you crest the summit so still they aren't that tall.)

I am currently on a campaign to get this particular co-worker to put together some work that can be displayed in the halls in our building. The posters that are there now are as old as the building and since he is an amazing photographer I think he should be able to leave some sort of legacy here. I think I have finally talked to the right person about it. Hopefully we will see some stuff going up in the hall soon. More amazing that what you see here and as he chooses which he will put up I will get copies so you can see.

What you can't really see in the above picture is the shed/house/falling structure. I know this sort of thing happens everywhere but I would think it would behoove a person to tear these structures down. They are a random hazard out in the middle of nowhere. But then I have to remember some of these structures are the original homesteads. How cool to look at a building that was probably here before Oklahoma was even a state. There are still people alive today who lived here before it was a state. That just blows my mind.

And you thought I was kidding.

This is the full body harness I just bought for Xyla. She is only 16 months but it would be a shame not to encourage her natural fearlessness and her unfeigning interest in climbing everything that will hold still and sometimes things that don't.

Honestly, what do you teach a 16 month old to signify needing to be let down? I suppose they have some solution for that at the climbing gym. Off to our first adventure, as soon as this arrives.

Remember this?

I ripped this off an MSN article on brands that disappeared quickly. I used to be a Dr. Pepper fan almost exclusively until this came out. I started drinking it just because it had my name on it. I figured if someone else put theirs down I could pick it up and when they gave me "that look" I could say, "sorry, it has my name on it. I thought it was mine."

Baby Proofing 101

What I have read in baby/parenting magazines about babyproofing your home has always seemed absurd. I mean picking up stuff on the floor and putting in their mouth is the way babies learn about stuff. I am drawn to the fact that things need to be safe for our kids but sometimes the stuff they come up with is over board. So I have limited it down to the three basics of baby proofing:

Toilet lock: serves the basic purpose of closing off the only standing water element in your home, as in your baby could drown here, it also keeps the baby from playing in the toilet water when they slip out of your eye sight. Some babies just like water.

Cabinet lock: really only necessary on the cabinets that have poisons in them. Put all your poisons in one cabinet and you'll only have to get one set.

Stove safety: and this one is free. Those knobs come off so take them off and the baby (if a climber and a helper - discussion later) will not be able to accidentally turn the stove on. You only need one and guess what, they are interchangeable.

The only other saftey thing I feel is necessary is a garbage with a lid, at least until you can convince the baby that what goes in the garbage should not come out (unless of course it's mommy's keys she just put in there).

Obviously the climbing is not just a stage. Next month we are working to acquire two things, a full body harness that adjusts down to her size and another thing I am not ready to talk about yet.

As far as milestones she is learning to dress (put her shoes on - and she always picks two shoes that match and puts them on the right feet - I didn't teach her to do that, I am proud though.) . . .
. . and undress herself. Somedays this is easier than others. She squealed from the other room and then walked past me very quickly and this is what I saw. I laughed so hard she scowled at me - that is a look she has been working on.

It is a grueling tale that takes to much effort to recount. Lets just leave it at she loves this bike. In my next post I will tell you why we got it but for now . . . there is a baby seat that mounts in the middle. I like that idea because if a car hits us from behind there is me between her and the car, somehow that just makes me feel better. We got the bike home and had to adjust the baby seat so I had to have her try it out. Then she picked up some tools and made some of her own "adjustments". While she was asleep for a nap the air went out of the tire rather quickly. I had to take the rear tire off to check the tube and there was a puncture. I haven't even ridden it yet. I was disappointed. I used a repair kit to fix it and a new hole was punctured through the patch. I checked the rim and a piece was seated wrong in rim and exposed the spoke connectors which popped the tire. When she woke up and saw the tire off she acted like I had mutilated her friend. I think it's safe to say she likes the bike, however, I will be at Academy Sports for lunch today.

Those parenting magazines also tell you right around now is a good age to have your kids help you cook. She is interested but it's hard to keep her from touching the burners when they are on. She is really good at following my directions when I tell her to put something in something else, I'll just have to slide her ladder around the corner in the future so she can't reach the pots.

Hey did I tell you we ditched the high chair? Yep, they have been setting her at the table to eat at the day care for a while now so I decided to find her a table and chairs that were her height. She is diggin' it. The new version of this "Dora the Explorer" table is $50 at that baby store. We picked it up for $20 at Burlington. It helps you bargain with them if you know what the going price is. Her Dora push button doll got new batteries last night so Dora was saying, "count with me". And proceeded to count in Spanish and she tried very hard to repeat quatro, it sounded close to me.
I am not sure if this is the time in her life where I need to tell her life isn't about filling someone elses shoes, it's finding a comfortable pair to help you blaze your own path in life. Still it makes me feel good that she wants to wear something of mine.

How are you liking Oklahoma? Part 2

To give you an idea of where I came from lets start with what was right outside my front door.

This is the Grover bridge. Also known as the set out point for the salt river float, the fish/boating access, and generic swimming hole. The driveway to the house I grew up in is just to the left of this photograph. My dog used to steal fish from the fishermen. We used to lay on the road way after jumping in the river (because that water is so stinking cold, even in the summer). We had horses and the dogs, we were a mile from our neighbors in either direction and it was a great place to grow up.

Then there is this. This is the city of Afton's water source. A natural artesian well that quite frankly is the best water I have ever tasted. Anywhere. Along with the springs comes a hike that makes you feel good inside. There are so many places to hike here that you will never get bored. The top of each trail is an amazing view that is definitely worth the climb.

I am going to make an assumption here and I am willing to be wrong but I really don't think I am. This is the Elk refuge. It is an area where you can't hunt because well, that'd be like shooting sitting ducks but this is how you know those stinkers are out there. It has been said by many a hunter that the one that got away bounded off with a copy of the regs in their back pocket.

As spring turns to fall this is what you get. It really doesn't matter what direction you turn, you have a great view.

When winter hits (for about nine months) there is still a plethora of things to do. Not the least of which is cross country (uphill) skiing at the south end. I can't wait to take the baby here.

When I look at these pictures I borrowed off the Star Valley facebook fan page I do get all nostalgic and I wonder why it is we left. I was unhappy growing up for one reason or another but those reasons seem to melt away when I see where I am now. So when you ask me how I am liking Oklahoma and I say "it's ok." I am just trying to be nice. You wouldn't understand if I tried to explain to you where I am from and why I will never feel about flat the way I do about the mountains. If you aren't from there you just won't get it.