January 22, 2009
Joe says I’m beautiful. But I’ve never thought of myself as pretty. A girl who is not, in the traditional sense, pretty, has to work eight times harder to have value in this society. I have spent my life in the fact that girls who are “pretty” by society’s standards, get more privileges, and to get those privileges, all they have to do is just --be pretty. A girl who isn’t pretty by society’s standards doesn’t get noticed, no matter how smart or talented she is.
What brought this all to mind is, the Inauguration. Yesterday was a historic day in our nation; we inaugurated our 44th president, and the first black president, Barack Obama. The only thing the news and blogs mention about the First Lady, Michelle Obama, is what she’s wearing. What designer. What color. What style. That is what gets a woman noticed. That is what gives a woman value in our society, what she wears.
No mention is made at all about what kind of person she is, how smart or talented she is, or what she can actually CONTRIBUTE to our nation. There is talk about her being the next Jackie O. I don’t doubt Michelle Obama is an intelligent, educated lady. I also don’t doubt that she’ll have her own agendas and programs to better our country. But you know what? She probably wouldn’t have the visibility to accomplish what she is capable of, without her husband being president. Women are still identifying themselves in terms of men.
What did Women’s Lib do for us? Women burned their bras and their steno pads. And yet, here in the 21st century, more women are in clerical, administrative assistant jobs than are in “professional” jobs. In the sixties we denounced our femininity, yet here and now, many women dress to draw attention to their bodies. Not saying that anything is wrong with that – If you got it, flaunt it! But not all of us “got it.”
Here are some questions for Michelle (I don’t care what she’s wearing):
*Why did you choose Harvard Law and why is your chosen profession important to you?
*What causes are important to you and how would you make the world a better place?
*What advice would you give to mothers of young children, or to the young women of today?
*What sort of role model do you wish to portray to the young women of today?
*What kind of wife are you? What do you believe a wife’s role is? How would you encourage women to be better wives?
*What were your parents like? What was your upbringing like? What values did you learn from her parents?
*What are your views on the world your daughters are growing up in?
*In your opinion, what values are important to be a “young lady” in today’s society?
*What involvements or interests do you have in the arts? (music, theatre, museums, art, etc)
*Do your daughters have chores? Are they expected to make their beds, do dishes, take out the trash, vaccuum the livingroom floor? Are they learning to cook, iron, do laundry, keep and decorate a home, handle money wisely, shop for groceries, plan meals?
Answers to these questions would tell volumes more about what the First Lady can offer our country, than how she chooses her wardrobe.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Steinbeck's Greatest Work
January 8, 2009
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been reading The Grapes of Wrath. Reading what is probably John Steinbeck’s greatest work, has become a true-to-life example of “unschooling” for both Joe and myself. The story has presented itself as a study primarily on the Dust Bowl years of the Midwest during the Great Depression. Oklahoma was a big part of that, and Joe suggested that his Uncle Forrest (who was born in 1929) might have some stories to tell, whether memories of his own or stories handed down from his parents.
The story has really made me thankful for everything I have. Drought hit the Midwest in the 1930s so the farmers couldn’t grow crops. With nothing to sell they had no money to pay their mortgages, so the banks drove them off their land. They had nothing – no home, little food, and even less dignity.
Rumor was all over that plenty of work was to be found in the orchards and farms of California, so thousands of “Okies” packed up what little they had and headed west. They lived in poorly-maintained migrant camps, found that work was scarce and wages were low, and to add insult to injury the Californians spurned them as being dirty, stupid Okies. People died of starvation and disease. It’s a sad, sad, story, one that happened to thousands of people during the Dust Bowl years.
The Grapes of Wrath is a study of the old Route 66 and the cities it winds through from Oklahoma to California. It’s a study in the geography of the heart of America. It’s a study of life during the Depression. It’s a study of migrant workers in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Joe and I have even studied up on John Steinbeck himself. He was a newspaper reporter who wrote this book based on the many stories being done about the migrants in the 1930s.
The “Okies” as described in the book make me think of the “Mexicans” of today. As a culture we call all illegal Hispanic immigrants “Mexicans” whether or not they are actually from Mexico. We resent their presence in our land. We despise their bringing their ways of life into our country. We hate that they are taking over our schools, our stores, our communities. We hate that they speak their own language instead of learning ours. We label them lazy and dishonest. And maybe most of all, we don’t want them mixing socially among our people.
Some of those stereotypes may be true, for some of the immigrants. For others, maybe not so much.
But it’s easy to see how the Californians must have thought of the migrant workers of the 1930s. The migrants were collectively labeled “Okies” even though over half weren’t even from Oklahoma. And to be called an Okie was not a good thing. It was like being called a n----r or a
f----t today. The Californians despised the Okies and wanted them out of their land. The Okies were just doing the best they could, trying to survive the only way they knew how.
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been reading The Grapes of Wrath. Reading what is probably John Steinbeck’s greatest work, has become a true-to-life example of “unschooling” for both Joe and myself. The story has presented itself as a study primarily on the Dust Bowl years of the Midwest during the Great Depression. Oklahoma was a big part of that, and Joe suggested that his Uncle Forrest (who was born in 1929) might have some stories to tell, whether memories of his own or stories handed down from his parents.
The story has really made me thankful for everything I have. Drought hit the Midwest in the 1930s so the farmers couldn’t grow crops. With nothing to sell they had no money to pay their mortgages, so the banks drove them off their land. They had nothing – no home, little food, and even less dignity.
Rumor was all over that plenty of work was to be found in the orchards and farms of California, so thousands of “Okies” packed up what little they had and headed west. They lived in poorly-maintained migrant camps, found that work was scarce and wages were low, and to add insult to injury the Californians spurned them as being dirty, stupid Okies. People died of starvation and disease. It’s a sad, sad, story, one that happened to thousands of people during the Dust Bowl years.
The Grapes of Wrath is a study of the old Route 66 and the cities it winds through from Oklahoma to California. It’s a study in the geography of the heart of America. It’s a study of life during the Depression. It’s a study of migrant workers in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Joe and I have even studied up on John Steinbeck himself. He was a newspaper reporter who wrote this book based on the many stories being done about the migrants in the 1930s.
The “Okies” as described in the book make me think of the “Mexicans” of today. As a culture we call all illegal Hispanic immigrants “Mexicans” whether or not they are actually from Mexico. We resent their presence in our land. We despise their bringing their ways of life into our country. We hate that they are taking over our schools, our stores, our communities. We hate that they speak their own language instead of learning ours. We label them lazy and dishonest. And maybe most of all, we don’t want them mixing socially among our people.
Some of those stereotypes may be true, for some of the immigrants. For others, maybe not so much.
But it’s easy to see how the Californians must have thought of the migrant workers of the 1930s. The migrants were collectively labeled “Okies” even though over half weren’t even from Oklahoma. And to be called an Okie was not a good thing. It was like being called a n----r or a
f----t today. The Californians despised the Okies and wanted them out of their land. The Okies were just doing the best they could, trying to survive the only way they knew how.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A New Year Begins
January 5, 2009
2009 has gotten off to a flying start! Describing everything that has happened in the past few days would take hours. Maybe I should start with the things presently on my mind. I have only 2 chapters left in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It’s such a richly-written book. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it; it’s very descriptive. Of course, I’ve seen the movie so I already know what happens. But reading it is so much richer than just seeing the Hollywood version.
I’ve become fascinated with that whole time frame – the 1920s & 1930s, The Roaring Twenties, the Crash of 1929, the Great Depression. If I could go back in time, that’s where I’d go. I’m fascinated with “the way things used to be.” So I guess my latest diversion is no surprise: collecting antiques. I have so much fun shopping at thrift stores; I never know what I'll find. It’s like a treasure hunt. I always find interesting knicknacks and gadgets. Sometimes I find name-brand china and I’ll look up the stamp on the bottom of the dish, on the internet. Sometimes a piece is worth something. Not hundreds of dollars, but if I buy a cup & saucer for $2.50 and I find it priced for $30 on an antiques website, well, that’s something. That’s a 1200% profit.
Joe’s grandmother has passed down to him many of her knickknacks and collectibles. She collected teacups & saucers, much of it low-key “made in Japan” stuff. But we found a few pieces with the “Haviland” or “Limoges” name. Limoges is a town in France where high-quality porcelain was manufactured in the 1800s and early 1900s. If a piece has the Limoges stamp, most likely it is a piece worth keeping. I should start reading up on antiques and educate myself, and should probably have some of the pieces appraised.
I took Joe to Lin’s Super Buffet at MacArthur and I-40 for a late birthday dinner. He’s a Christmas Eve baby; his birthday is Dec. 24. Going out to eat – or anywhere, for that matter-- on Christmas Eve is just not the most practical plan! So we waited until now. I had wanted to take him to Sushi Neko or Mahogany Steak House or even Yamato Japanese Steak House. But, this new Lin’s Buffet opened up recently and that’s where he wanted to go. Buffet, sushi, & steak -- that’s what he had a hankerin' for, so that’s where we went.
For a birthday dinner, it was just right. Lin's has an outstanding selection, and is one of the better Asian buffets we’ve eaten at. They did have steak, and sushi (which I tried and didn’t care for), octopus, and crawfish. Of course they had chicken and (fake) crab too, along with the usual dishes like Kung Pao Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken and Beef & Broccoli. Their wontons were yummy; the cream cheese inside was sweet and buttery. Their egg drop soup was warm and delicious; I didn’t try the hot & sour or the seafood soups. The dessert bar was luscious and extensive; but I was already full so just had some jello, a couple pieces of cantaloupe, and 2 cream puffs. I never knew cream puffs could be found at an Asian buffet.
And that’s how 2009 has gotten started for us! We have a wedding to plan this upcoming year, and we need to start looking for a bigger house. I think I’ll re-read the “Little House” books too, and see if they strike me differently now as an adult rather than as a schoolgirl.
2009 has gotten off to a flying start! Describing everything that has happened in the past few days would take hours. Maybe I should start with the things presently on my mind. I have only 2 chapters left in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It’s such a richly-written book. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it; it’s very descriptive. Of course, I’ve seen the movie so I already know what happens. But reading it is so much richer than just seeing the Hollywood version.
I’ve become fascinated with that whole time frame – the 1920s & 1930s, The Roaring Twenties, the Crash of 1929, the Great Depression. If I could go back in time, that’s where I’d go. I’m fascinated with “the way things used to be.” So I guess my latest diversion is no surprise: collecting antiques. I have so much fun shopping at thrift stores; I never know what I'll find. It’s like a treasure hunt. I always find interesting knicknacks and gadgets. Sometimes I find name-brand china and I’ll look up the stamp on the bottom of the dish, on the internet. Sometimes a piece is worth something. Not hundreds of dollars, but if I buy a cup & saucer for $2.50 and I find it priced for $30 on an antiques website, well, that’s something. That’s a 1200% profit.
Joe’s grandmother has passed down to him many of her knickknacks and collectibles. She collected teacups & saucers, much of it low-key “made in Japan” stuff. But we found a few pieces with the “Haviland” or “Limoges” name. Limoges is a town in France where high-quality porcelain was manufactured in the 1800s and early 1900s. If a piece has the Limoges stamp, most likely it is a piece worth keeping. I should start reading up on antiques and educate myself, and should probably have some of the pieces appraised.
I took Joe to Lin’s Super Buffet at MacArthur and I-40 for a late birthday dinner. He’s a Christmas Eve baby; his birthday is Dec. 24. Going out to eat – or anywhere, for that matter-- on Christmas Eve is just not the most practical plan! So we waited until now. I had wanted to take him to Sushi Neko or Mahogany Steak House or even Yamato Japanese Steak House. But, this new Lin’s Buffet opened up recently and that’s where he wanted to go. Buffet, sushi, & steak -- that’s what he had a hankerin' for, so that’s where we went.
For a birthday dinner, it was just right. Lin's has an outstanding selection, and is one of the better Asian buffets we’ve eaten at. They did have steak, and sushi (which I tried and didn’t care for), octopus, and crawfish. Of course they had chicken and (fake) crab too, along with the usual dishes like Kung Pao Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken and Beef & Broccoli. Their wontons were yummy; the cream cheese inside was sweet and buttery. Their egg drop soup was warm and delicious; I didn’t try the hot & sour or the seafood soups. The dessert bar was luscious and extensive; but I was already full so just had some jello, a couple pieces of cantaloupe, and 2 cream puffs. I never knew cream puffs could be found at an Asian buffet.
And that’s how 2009 has gotten started for us! We have a wedding to plan this upcoming year, and we need to start looking for a bigger house. I think I’ll re-read the “Little House” books too, and see if they strike me differently now as an adult rather than as a schoolgirl.
The Last Day of 2008
December 31, 2008
Today is the last day of this year. And what a full year it’s been. Joe’s plant is closed, so he has been off work since Christmas, although he has to use his vacation days to make up the time. These past 3 days he’s been taking me to lunch. We ate at Bellini’s Monday, La Baguette Tuesday, and Mamasita’s today. Italian, French, Mexican. Over all he spent about $100 just on those lunches, and I told him he didn’t have to take me out again until Valentine’s Day. I’m the one who is all up in arms about spending money eating out. This week was a special occasion though; it’s not very often we get to have lunch together. He said the next time he’d get to take me to lunch would be Good Friday. His plant has the day off; we don’t. Last year on Good Friday we ate at Café Do Brasil.
I like taking Joe to restaurants he’s never been to before. And that pretty much includes the whole northside.
What was this last day of 2008 like? It was cold, in the 40s-50s, not like yesterday, which got up into the high 60s. Sunny. I woke up to the radio before 6:00 this morning, after dreaming I was engaged to Johnny Depp. Why do I keep dreaming that I’m dating these movie stars? One night it was Emile Hirsch; another time it was Robert Downey Jr. I hardly ever dream about Joe. Weird.
I should have gotten up at 6:00 this morning but I so didn’t want to. Joe has been staying with me this week so I would have MUCH rather stayed snuggled up next to him. Of course, I can tomorrow (New Year’s Day), and the rest of the 4-day weekend. I finally got up at 6:40 and made it out of the house about 8:05.
Joe walked me to the car, as he has done each day this week. The workday was uneventful; I have spent most of my time this week on the “financial statement analysis” that our boss wants us to do each month after close. That is, it’s not something he checks on or asks for, but we’re encouraged to do it. And, I wind up being the one to do it, which is fine, because it forces me to look for relationships and patterns in the numbers. Premium this year is almost matching last year’s (last year’s was about 7% below the previous year’s) but receivables have gone up. Not a good sign, but it’s to be expected in today’s economy.
The company’s investment portfolio is doing OK, not outstanding, but we’re holding our own considering the recent crash. Overall, business is still good in spite of the rising unemployment rate, which is 6.7% nationally but just 4.7% statewide. I mention that because we provide workers’ compensation insurance, which is dependent on employers’ payroll. If unemployment is up, payroll is down, and down goes employers’ need for WC insurance.
And that’s all I have to say about today, Wednesday, December 31, 2008!
Today is the last day of this year. And what a full year it’s been. Joe’s plant is closed, so he has been off work since Christmas, although he has to use his vacation days to make up the time. These past 3 days he’s been taking me to lunch. We ate at Bellini’s Monday, La Baguette Tuesday, and Mamasita’s today. Italian, French, Mexican. Over all he spent about $100 just on those lunches, and I told him he didn’t have to take me out again until Valentine’s Day. I’m the one who is all up in arms about spending money eating out. This week was a special occasion though; it’s not very often we get to have lunch together. He said the next time he’d get to take me to lunch would be Good Friday. His plant has the day off; we don’t. Last year on Good Friday we ate at Café Do Brasil.
I like taking Joe to restaurants he’s never been to before. And that pretty much includes the whole northside.
What was this last day of 2008 like? It was cold, in the 40s-50s, not like yesterday, which got up into the high 60s. Sunny. I woke up to the radio before 6:00 this morning, after dreaming I was engaged to Johnny Depp. Why do I keep dreaming that I’m dating these movie stars? One night it was Emile Hirsch; another time it was Robert Downey Jr. I hardly ever dream about Joe. Weird.
I should have gotten up at 6:00 this morning but I so didn’t want to. Joe has been staying with me this week so I would have MUCH rather stayed snuggled up next to him. Of course, I can tomorrow (New Year’s Day), and the rest of the 4-day weekend. I finally got up at 6:40 and made it out of the house about 8:05.
Joe walked me to the car, as he has done each day this week. The workday was uneventful; I have spent most of my time this week on the “financial statement analysis” that our boss wants us to do each month after close. That is, it’s not something he checks on or asks for, but we’re encouraged to do it. And, I wind up being the one to do it, which is fine, because it forces me to look for relationships and patterns in the numbers. Premium this year is almost matching last year’s (last year’s was about 7% below the previous year’s) but receivables have gone up. Not a good sign, but it’s to be expected in today’s economy.
The company’s investment portfolio is doing OK, not outstanding, but we’re holding our own considering the recent crash. Overall, business is still good in spite of the rising unemployment rate, which is 6.7% nationally but just 4.7% statewide. I mention that because we provide workers’ compensation insurance, which is dependent on employers’ payroll. If unemployment is up, payroll is down, and down goes employers’ need for WC insurance.
And that’s all I have to say about today, Wednesday, December 31, 2008!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Pioneer History and Victorian Beauty
December 7, 2008
It’s time to start making wedding plans! My family has finally met Joe and his kids, and Joe and his kids have met the family. And that’s what I wanted to accomplish before making any definite plans-- getting the two families together. The bride is now ready to move forward!
The first thing we need to do is to set a date and choose a location. I’d love to marry in April, when the redbuds and dogwoods are in full bloom. We love our home state of Oklahoma (ok, it’s not really my home state. I’m a transplant – but it has become my home) and wanted to get married in a place that would showcase the state’s splendor. Muskogee, with the dazzling array of azaleas that bloom there each spring, is definitely a possibility.
And I’ve long known that if I were to ever remarry, I definitely wanted to marry outdoors. We’d considered Cloudland Canyon at the foot of the falls; it’s a secluded, peaceful place. But there’s no way we could get Fern down there, with her using a walker and a cane to get around on flat ground. I want her to see her son finally marry his true love. Oklahoma will be the place that happens.
The town of Guthrie would be a lovely spot to say our vows. It was the first capital of Oklahoma and is rich with pioneer history and Victorian beauty. Joe and I drove there one day to check the place out. Here’s a quick history of the city from http://www.guthrieok.com/HISTORY.html :
Guthrie began its life as a dusty prairie stop along the AT&SF Railroad. On April 22, 1889, the day of the Land Run, Guthrie had its first incarnation as a destination, becoming a city of 10,000 people by nightfall.Located in the Unassigned Lands of the Indian Territory, Guthrie had been chosen as a site for one of the Federal Land Offices where land seekers were required to file claim to their parcels. By the evening of April 22, a tent city already dominated the landscape. Wooden buildings soon replaced the tents spreading across the hills along Cottonwood Creek. Guthrie became one of the largest cities west of the Mississippi and was quickly known for its beautiful buildings built of red brick and native sandstone.
With the passing of the Organic Act in 1890,Oklahoma became a US Territory and Guthrie was selected as The Territorial Capital. Seventeen years later, on November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was declared a state by then President Theodore Roosevelt with Guthrie as the First State Capital.
First Joe and I had a late lunch at Granny Had One. The building dates to 1891. One entire wall of the restaurant is a mural depicting Guthrie in its early days as a pioneer town, before the turn of the century: horses & buggies; cowboys 
roping calves; ladies wearing long gowns and stylishly large hats; buffalo grazing in the fields; a steam engine chugging down the track. I spied an old-timey player piano and a collection of player-piano music in one corner. Toward the back of the establishment I noticed a cozy meeting room called The Garden Room where we could possibly have the rehearsal dinner. It was all very quaint.
The next stop in our walking tour was the Redstone Country Inn Bed &Breakfast and Wedding Chapel. The two wedding chapels inside, a larger and a smaller one, were already invitingly decorated with flowers and greenery. White garden chairs were set up in both chapels as if they were ready for a wedding at any time.
I found myself absorbed in the history and architecture of Guthrie. Many of the old red and brown buildings show the year they were built: 1890, 1891, 1893. I felt as if we were walking back in time. The Blue Bell Saloon, popular during Territorial times, still stands, thanks to a little remodeling over the century. 
The old train depot marks the home of the of the Santa Fe Railroad which once brought hundreds of pioneers at a time into the growing town. The depot is still there but now serves as a banquet hall and meeting center.
And we certainly didn’t want to miss those on our afternoon tour! As the day turned to dusk, 
Joe and I strolled a few blocks north of town to investigate some of the old remodeled Victorian homes which are now B&B’s. It was difficult, though, to imagine a spring wedding in the dead of winter just before Christmas.
The cowboys, steam engines, and the land office are all gone now. Modern Guthrie is now dotted with antique shops, a performing arts theater, a tea room or two, and even a steakhouse. Guthrie has so much to offer, and what I’ve written here does not even scratch the surface.
History was made in Guthrie. Will this be the place Joe and I make our new start in life, and create some history of our own?
It’s time to start making wedding plans! My family has finally met Joe and his kids, and Joe and his kids have met the family. And that’s what I wanted to accomplish before making any definite plans-- getting the two families together. The bride is now ready to move forward!
The first thing we need to do is to set a date and choose a location. I’d love to marry in April, when the redbuds and dogwoods are in full bloom. We love our home state of Oklahoma (ok, it’s not really my home state. I’m a transplant – but it has become my home) and wanted to get married in a place that would showcase the state’s splendor. Muskogee, with the dazzling array of azaleas that bloom there each spring, is definitely a possibility.
And I’ve long known that if I were to ever remarry, I definitely wanted to marry outdoors. We’d considered Cloudland Canyon at the foot of the falls; it’s a secluded, peaceful place. But there’s no way we could get Fern down there, with her using a walker and a cane to get around on flat ground. I want her to see her son finally marry his true love. Oklahoma will be the place that happens.
The town of Guthrie would be a lovely spot to say our vows. It was the first capital of Oklahoma and is rich with pioneer history and Victorian beauty. Joe and I drove there one day to check the place out. Here’s a quick history of the city from http://www.guthrieok.com/HISTORY.html :
Guthrie began its life as a dusty prairie stop along the AT&SF Railroad. On April 22, 1889, the day of the Land Run, Guthrie had its first incarnation as a destination, becoming a city of 10,000 people by nightfall.Located in the Unassigned Lands of the Indian Territory, Guthrie had been chosen as a site for one of the Federal Land Offices where land seekers were required to file claim to their parcels. By the evening of April 22, a tent city already dominated the landscape. Wooden buildings soon replaced the tents spreading across the hills along Cottonwood Creek. Guthrie became one of the largest cities west of the Mississippi and was quickly known for its beautiful buildings built of red brick and native sandstone.
With the passing of the Organic Act in 1890,Oklahoma became a US Territory and Guthrie was selected as The Territorial Capital. Seventeen years later, on November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was declared a state by then President Theodore Roosevelt with Guthrie as the First State Capital.
First Joe and I had a late lunch at Granny Had One. The building dates to 1891. One entire wall of the restaurant is a mural depicting Guthrie in its early days as a pioneer town, before the turn of the century: horses & buggies; cowboys 
roping calves; ladies wearing long gowns and stylishly large hats; buffalo grazing in the fields; a steam engine chugging down the track. I spied an old-timey player piano and a collection of player-piano music in one corner. Toward the back of the establishment I noticed a cozy meeting room called The Garden Room where we could possibly have the rehearsal dinner. It was all very quaint.
The next stop in our walking tour was the Redstone Country Inn Bed &Breakfast and Wedding Chapel. The two wedding chapels inside, a larger and a smaller one, were already invitingly decorated with flowers and greenery. White garden chairs were set up in both chapels as if they were ready for a wedding at any time.
I found myself absorbed in the history and architecture of Guthrie. Many of the old red and brown buildings show the year they were built: 1890, 1891, 1893. I felt as if we were walking back in time. The Blue Bell Saloon, popular during Territorial times, still stands, thanks to a little remodeling over the century. 
The land office, where thousands of settlers staked their homestead claims, is long gone. That part of history is lost forever. But thanks to the Guthrie Historic District Restoration Program, we can still get a glimpse of what town life was like in the late 19th century, in buildings such as the Foucart Building, designed by architect Joseph Foucart and built in 1891.
Guthrie being the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Oklahoma, we may even have the wedding at a B&B. “Choose from one of 13 distinct and elegant bed and breakfast inns, cottages, and downtown suites in historic Guthrie, Oklahoma.” http://www.guthriebb.com/
And we certainly didn’t want to miss those on our afternoon tour! As the day turned to dusk, 
Joe and I strolled a few blocks north of town to investigate some of the old remodeled Victorian homes which are now B&B’s. It was difficult, though, to imagine a spring wedding in the dead of winter just before Christmas. (p) The Guthrie of a century ago was a place where thousands of pioneers made new starts in life. Imagine hearing the trains whistle as they rolled in to the depot. Imagine the noisy crowds filing their claims at the land office. Imagine cowboys stopping for a swig or two at the saloon.
The cowboys, steam engines, and the land office are all gone now. Modern Guthrie is now dotted with antique shops, a performing arts theater, a tea room or two, and even a steakhouse. Guthrie has so much to offer, and what I’ve written here does not even scratch the surface.
History was made in Guthrie. Will this be the place Joe and I make our new start in life, and create some history of our own?
John Again!
December 29, 2008
Joe and I are constantly having to work with John and his obstinateness. Guess we will be for a few more years.
I feel for him. In some ways, I identify with John more than I do Jodie. John likes to be alone sometimes, to not be bothered. Saturday morning he said he just wanted to be left alone. So I left him alone. Some time later Joe asked me if I’d seen John. I hadn’t. Joe found him sitting in a closet by himself. That is bothersome. But what got to me even worse was that Joe yelled at him for it. Yelling isn’t going to help. Joe said he was worried, which of course any parent would be, but yelling and making him feel like he’d done something wrong wasn’t going to help.
I prefer a gentle-yet-assertive approach. When we were at Elaine’s house over the Thanksgiving holiday, John had quite a bit of congestion and was constantly sniffing and snorting. Joe bought some Nyquil for him, which he –well, he didn’t “refuse” to take it, he just got a cupful in his mouth and couldn’t swallow it. Nyquil does have a pretty strong taste, and it’s hard even for me to swallow.
Joe kept threatening to “take him to the doctor and get his shots” when we got home. I asked, why give him shots? People get sick, people get over it. I don’t see the point in going out of our way to the doctor’s office to get shots just for congestion or a cold.
So this past weekend John was congested again. I tried my approach with the Nyquil: I spoon-fed him 4 spoons of it instead of making him down the whole cup. Well, I tried that and the approach my mom took: the “you’re going to take this if I have to shove it down your throat” approach. Well, he finally took it, and even took some the next night ON HIS OWN, without us having to force and threaten. Progress!
Also he’s been eating his vegs – namely broccoli and spinach, where before he’d try every trick in the book to get out of eating them. Again, progress. Oh, I just remembered another thing that happened recently! Saturday morning I tried to get him to take Dayquil tabs. He said he couldn’t swallow them. So you know what? We tried good ol’ parental ingenuity and mixed up a strawberry-mango-yogurt-Dayquil smoothie for him!
Trying to help this kid is like pulling teeth! I told him he’d sit in that chair, even with no bathroom breaks, and not eat another thing UNTIL he had that smoothie down. I swear it took him 3 hours to finish it, but finally did. I said that it wasn’t a punishment, we were trying to help him, as any parent would. But if he refuses to let us help him, well, then there’s nothing we can do. But you know what? His congestion cleared up. Lo and behold.
Joe and I are constantly having to work with John and his obstinateness. Guess we will be for a few more years.
I feel for him. In some ways, I identify with John more than I do Jodie. John likes to be alone sometimes, to not be bothered. Saturday morning he said he just wanted to be left alone. So I left him alone. Some time later Joe asked me if I’d seen John. I hadn’t. Joe found him sitting in a closet by himself. That is bothersome. But what got to me even worse was that Joe yelled at him for it. Yelling isn’t going to help. Joe said he was worried, which of course any parent would be, but yelling and making him feel like he’d done something wrong wasn’t going to help.
I prefer a gentle-yet-assertive approach. When we were at Elaine’s house over the Thanksgiving holiday, John had quite a bit of congestion and was constantly sniffing and snorting. Joe bought some Nyquil for him, which he –well, he didn’t “refuse” to take it, he just got a cupful in his mouth and couldn’t swallow it. Nyquil does have a pretty strong taste, and it’s hard even for me to swallow.
Joe kept threatening to “take him to the doctor and get his shots” when we got home. I asked, why give him shots? People get sick, people get over it. I don’t see the point in going out of our way to the doctor’s office to get shots just for congestion or a cold.
So this past weekend John was congested again. I tried my approach with the Nyquil: I spoon-fed him 4 spoons of it instead of making him down the whole cup. Well, I tried that and the approach my mom took: the “you’re going to take this if I have to shove it down your throat” approach. Well, he finally took it, and even took some the next night ON HIS OWN, without us having to force and threaten. Progress!
Also he’s been eating his vegs – namely broccoli and spinach, where before he’d try every trick in the book to get out of eating them. Again, progress. Oh, I just remembered another thing that happened recently! Saturday morning I tried to get him to take Dayquil tabs. He said he couldn’t swallow them. So you know what? We tried good ol’ parental ingenuity and mixed up a strawberry-mango-yogurt-Dayquil smoothie for him!
Trying to help this kid is like pulling teeth! I told him he’d sit in that chair, even with no bathroom breaks, and not eat another thing UNTIL he had that smoothie down. I swear it took him 3 hours to finish it, but finally did. I said that it wasn’t a punishment, we were trying to help him, as any parent would. But if he refuses to let us help him, well, then there’s nothing we can do. But you know what? His congestion cleared up. Lo and behold.
Stretching a Buck
December 22, 2008
And speaking of home-cooked meals…
Today I finished reviewing and analyzing Joe’s bank account. He gave me access to his bank account so that I can see how he manages his money, where he spends it, etc. We are planning on getting married so I have to know these things (and after all, I am an accountant). Well, one of the first things I found was that he spends $400 to $500 a month eating out! At first I thought it was so high because we had the kids, and that it should have been lower prior to July.
But it wasn’t! I told him that would have to change. There is no sense in spending that much eating out, above and beyond groceries and food fixed at home. When we go out to eat as a family, we spend anywhere from $30-$50; actually closer to $50, with all 5 of us. I can stretch a buck better than that. I fixed 2 good dinners for the whole family this past weekend, and I would bet I spent no more than $20 on each of them.
Let’s see: Friday night I roasted a chicken, about $4-$5. I fixed a box of Stove-Top stuffing, the store brand, about $1. A can of yams, $1 at the most. Salad, from a packet, about $3. Cranberry sauce, about $1 give or take. And leftover wheat rolls, I don’t remember how much those were but let’s say $2. Hmmm, the whole dinner comes to $13, and even if I’ve underestimated, counting tax, and considering drinks (tea or milk), it’s still within $20.
Saturday evening I slow-cooked a roast, about $7-$8. Fixed a box of potatoes au gratin, $1.50. Heated about a bagful of broccoli, $1.50. Added 2 cans of baby carrots to the roast, $1.50. Mixed a packet of onion soup mix and crushed 2 cloves of garlic with the roast, let’s say $1. That’s still just $13.50; add wheat bread, and tea or milk to drink, and again, still within $20. Twice I fed 5 people a healthy, wholesome, filling dinner for less than $20.
This is not the first time I’ve noticed that he’s a little freer with his food budget than I am. He’s much quicker than I am to pick up something to eat at a restaurant – and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I believe in making the most of what you have. Money is a limited resource.
So is your health, and in the wisdom of adulthood, I have come to realize that restaurants are in business to SELL FOOD. Their job is to make food TASTE GOOD so that you’ll BUY IT. They aren’t always looking out for our health and they’re certainly not looking out for our wallets.
We have to look out for our own wallets. A few months ago, I had a Homeowners’ Association meeting on in the evening after work and Joe asked me if I wanted him to pick up dinner. I said that a baked potato with barbecue brisket or ground beef sounded good, so he said he’d pick up something at Rib Crib.
“Why don’t you just buy the potatoes and the meat and fix them at home?” I asked.
“It’ll be too late when you got home.”
“It takes potatoes just an hour to bake in the oven. Just wrap them in foil and toss them in when you get home; they’ll be done by the time I get there,” I said. Plus we already had ground beef and barbecue sauce at home. Why go out and spend money on something that you’ve already got?
See, to me, fixing food at home is not only cheaper, but better for you overall. But, Joe insisted on going to Rib Crib. And I’m like OK, whatever. He’s buying, it’s his money.
Now that we have the kids, though, money has to stretch. It just has to. Here’s a meal I tried last month (didn’t track the cost, but I’m sure it was within $20): Salmon patties, crescent rolls, and rice. They sure were good. I’m such a good cook (and humble, too). For the salmon patties I mixed 2 cans of boneless salmon with ½ chopped onion, a handful of chopped parsley, one beaten egg, a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce, seafood seasoning, and 3 slices of bread chopped into crumbs. Formed them into 4 patties, and fried them up. They were rather loose; didn’t stick together very well and would come apart in the pan. That’s OK; once they were cooked up they stuck together pretty well. The rice and vegs were the “steam in the microwave” variety, and the can of crescent rolls took about 15 minutes to bake.
I tried an experiment a few weekends ago, because I REALLY want to trim down that ridiculous, ungodly $500 a month “eating out” budget. Sure, it’s so easy to eat out, and not mess up the kitchen and have to wash all the dishes afterward. Joe has so spoiled me in that way.
But my goal that weekend was to cook everything we eat, and not spend a bit on going to a restaurant. It worked! Friday evening we had sloppy joes and fried potatoes for dinner. Pancakes made our Saturday brunch. Baked salmon, alfredo-veggie noodles, and broccoli were our Saturday evening dinner. And chicken stir-fry with brown rice and mangoes on the side, made up our Sunday dinner. For lunches and snacks in between, we had leftovers. So there! We went a whole weekend without going out to eat!
The next Saturday we had leftovers of Friday’s meal for lunch. And for breakfast it was scrambled eggs (10) with cheese, and turkey bacon. A pack of turkey bacon is about $2.50, and a dozen eggs is about $1.30. Breakfast for 5 for $5.
Simple. Inexpensive. Healthy. Stretching a buck isn’t hard at all. Just takes a little creativity.
And speaking of home-cooked meals…
Today I finished reviewing and analyzing Joe’s bank account. He gave me access to his bank account so that I can see how he manages his money, where he spends it, etc. We are planning on getting married so I have to know these things (and after all, I am an accountant). Well, one of the first things I found was that he spends $400 to $500 a month eating out! At first I thought it was so high because we had the kids, and that it should have been lower prior to July.
But it wasn’t! I told him that would have to change. There is no sense in spending that much eating out, above and beyond groceries and food fixed at home. When we go out to eat as a family, we spend anywhere from $30-$50; actually closer to $50, with all 5 of us. I can stretch a buck better than that. I fixed 2 good dinners for the whole family this past weekend, and I would bet I spent no more than $20 on each of them.
Let’s see: Friday night I roasted a chicken, about $4-$5. I fixed a box of Stove-Top stuffing, the store brand, about $1. A can of yams, $1 at the most. Salad, from a packet, about $3. Cranberry sauce, about $1 give or take. And leftover wheat rolls, I don’t remember how much those were but let’s say $2. Hmmm, the whole dinner comes to $13, and even if I’ve underestimated, counting tax, and considering drinks (tea or milk), it’s still within $20.
Saturday evening I slow-cooked a roast, about $7-$8. Fixed a box of potatoes au gratin, $1.50. Heated about a bagful of broccoli, $1.50. Added 2 cans of baby carrots to the roast, $1.50. Mixed a packet of onion soup mix and crushed 2 cloves of garlic with the roast, let’s say $1. That’s still just $13.50; add wheat bread, and tea or milk to drink, and again, still within $20. Twice I fed 5 people a healthy, wholesome, filling dinner for less than $20.
This is not the first time I’ve noticed that he’s a little freer with his food budget than I am. He’s much quicker than I am to pick up something to eat at a restaurant – and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I believe in making the most of what you have. Money is a limited resource.
So is your health, and in the wisdom of adulthood, I have come to realize that restaurants are in business to SELL FOOD. Their job is to make food TASTE GOOD so that you’ll BUY IT. They aren’t always looking out for our health and they’re certainly not looking out for our wallets.
We have to look out for our own wallets. A few months ago, I had a Homeowners’ Association meeting on in the evening after work and Joe asked me if I wanted him to pick up dinner. I said that a baked potato with barbecue brisket or ground beef sounded good, so he said he’d pick up something at Rib Crib.
“Why don’t you just buy the potatoes and the meat and fix them at home?” I asked.
“It’ll be too late when you got home.”
“It takes potatoes just an hour to bake in the oven. Just wrap them in foil and toss them in when you get home; they’ll be done by the time I get there,” I said. Plus we already had ground beef and barbecue sauce at home. Why go out and spend money on something that you’ve already got?
See, to me, fixing food at home is not only cheaper, but better for you overall. But, Joe insisted on going to Rib Crib. And I’m like OK, whatever. He’s buying, it’s his money.
Now that we have the kids, though, money has to stretch. It just has to. Here’s a meal I tried last month (didn’t track the cost, but I’m sure it was within $20): Salmon patties, crescent rolls, and rice. They sure were good. I’m such a good cook (and humble, too). For the salmon patties I mixed 2 cans of boneless salmon with ½ chopped onion, a handful of chopped parsley, one beaten egg, a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce, seafood seasoning, and 3 slices of bread chopped into crumbs. Formed them into 4 patties, and fried them up. They were rather loose; didn’t stick together very well and would come apart in the pan. That’s OK; once they were cooked up they stuck together pretty well. The rice and vegs were the “steam in the microwave” variety, and the can of crescent rolls took about 15 minutes to bake.
I tried an experiment a few weekends ago, because I REALLY want to trim down that ridiculous, ungodly $500 a month “eating out” budget. Sure, it’s so easy to eat out, and not mess up the kitchen and have to wash all the dishes afterward. Joe has so spoiled me in that way.
But my goal that weekend was to cook everything we eat, and not spend a bit on going to a restaurant. It worked! Friday evening we had sloppy joes and fried potatoes for dinner. Pancakes made our Saturday brunch. Baked salmon, alfredo-veggie noodles, and broccoli were our Saturday evening dinner. And chicken stir-fry with brown rice and mangoes on the side, made up our Sunday dinner. For lunches and snacks in between, we had leftovers. So there! We went a whole weekend without going out to eat!
The next Saturday we had leftovers of Friday’s meal for lunch. And for breakfast it was scrambled eggs (10) with cheese, and turkey bacon. A pack of turkey bacon is about $2.50, and a dozen eggs is about $1.30. Breakfast for 5 for $5.
Simple. Inexpensive. Healthy. Stretching a buck isn’t hard at all. Just takes a little creativity.
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