Room Upgrades

Hello! I have missed y'all!
Yes, I know, usage of the term "y'all" automatically drops my perceived IQ score to 70 and below.
But it's one of my favorite words.
I have had some road tripping.
I saw some snow.
I stayed at a hotel where the upgraded rooms came with beer bottle openers.

That handy little accessory was on the front of the sink cabinet.

Oh, and it also had a phone in the W.C. (toilet/shower room), and that place was so nice, it came with its own soap dispenser.
Bleh!

From Roamin' Jen,
thanks for stoppin' by!

Good evening! It has been so long! Now I work out of town so when I get back to my hotel room, I feel wiped out and go straight to bed. But on this trip, I learned a few things in this medium sized city (47,000 souls, it has a Wal-Mart AND a Target!).

7) Watching the patrons at the local library will provide hours of entertainment.
6) According to some locals, Vick's is a local trashy bar. On Thursday nights, they have booty shaking contests. I took their word for it.
5) In this town, pedestrians play real-life Frogger. Seriously, the first day we were here, there was a fatality car-bicycle accident, the next day was a seriously injured pedestrian-car accident, and a few years back, one of the elected officials was hit by an uninsured motorist while inside a dollar store. The motorist thought the front door was a drive-through, apparently.
4) If you do the speed limit on a two-lane road with a turning lane, these fools think you are going to slow and will pass you on the sidewalk.
3) Handling the deed books will ruin them. Not really, the register was griping about how the books are old and everything is all on one of the 5 computers that were in use at the time. She gripes alot!
2) If you are looking for something in Book numbered 255 on page 634, it is not in said Book numbered 255, it is actually in the front of Book numbered 256. Nobody knows why, but page 634 has 200 friends from 255 to keep her company in 256.
1) It takes 1.5 minutes to go from the lobby of this courthouse to the 4th floor, via the stairs, where they keep information on deceased people.

That's pretty much it.
I am going to bed.
Thanks for Stoppin' By!
Jen

Traveling In Oklahoma

On one of the forums I stalk, a question about traveling in the Midwest was posed. The question was: 

I'll be taking a solo road trip this summer from Shreveport, LA to Denver, CO. I'd love to stop a whole bunch along the way and take some great photographs, but I just don't know what there is to see and photograph along my way. I don't have a definite route in mind yet, so if there is something really spectacular a little out of the way, I wouldn't mind taking a detour. I've also considered taking a different route on the return trip, but I just don't know what is out there!

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Apparently a local answered with the Travel Oklahoma Website and a few stops around the state: Turner Falls Park, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Scott, Black Mesa, and a few stops along our portion of Route 66. 

One of my favorite places to stop is Red Rock Canyon, it is small, quiet, and very peaceful in the wintertime. 

So, any suggestions about your favorite local hideaways? 

Thanks for Stoppin' By!

Jen

Dad's Pictures and Blasts from the PAST

A couple of months ago, my dad gave me two big boxes of old family pictures.


Here is one of the boxes.

These two pictures were on top.

I think my Dad was probably 16-18 in this picture.
I am pretty sure it is pre-Viet Nam, because I looked at a few of his post-Viet Nam pics and I think he left all of the scissors in Chu Lai.

This family picture was probably taken about 1986, judging from the age of us three kids and the lack of grey in my dad's hair. Oh, and the candle on the birthday cake. So we were probably in Arkansas City, Kansas, when this rockin' Polaroid was snapped.

I am still laughing at the mustache.

Thanks for Stoppin' By!


Jen

Wednesday Night

It's Wednesday night in the Big Town!
Yup, DH is out riding with his boys, me, I am at home still fighting with Quickbooks. I guess I am going to have to cry "Uncle!" and turn it over to a professional computer geek.
So, after having taken a small ride, I am back and playing with the new computer and trying to update this Quickbooks. Basically, I am re inputting the last month's receipts, invoices, and bills into the program.
This weekend, I am going to have to bite the bullet and start inputting all of last year's stuff into our personal side so we can go get our taxes done by the accountant.
About that ride, I rode down to Best Buy to find a keyboard for the laptop.
I am not a huge fan of laptop keyboards, my hands don't curve correctly to use them very well.
Back to that ride, I waited until after round 4 of trying to re-install/de-install Quickbooks, DH had left for Wednesday ride night, then he came back to get the PikePass, left again, and I was ready.
I hit that door running!
Helmet, coat, backpack, keys.
Turn the bike on, back out, and awaaaay we gooo!
I took the scenic route to OK-74/ Lake Hefner Parkway. I am glad I did, because when I got onto the Lake Hefner Parkway portion of the highway, the wind kicked up something fierce.
I have to admit, I was a touch concerned. A gust of wind made me and the bike wiggle.
Whew! I was so glad to get to Best Buy and off the highway.
I ran in, purchased the keyboard, and walked back out.
I was in NO hurry to get back on the highway. Also, the sun had gone down. Bikers really have to pay attention to their surroundings during the day, but it is twice as bad at night.
During the day, a biker has a fifty/fifty chance that the other drivers are actually seeing her.
At night, not only are the other drivers texting, talking on the phone, but most are coming back from dinner, so they have had "one or two" drinks.
And it is dark.
And they don't see you.
It is scary sometimes.
I got over myself and got back on the bike.
The traffic is pretty heavy on the intersection at May and 63rd in Oklahoma City, so I turned right to head south on May so I wouldn't have to play "Frogger" to get back accross the road. I next turned right on Independence, then back left on 63rd to get back on the highway. I know, I took the long way, give me a break, I was trying to minimize the risk of me getting squished.
I am riding on the highway; fighting the wind all the way home.
I finally make it back to the house, try round 5 on Quickbooks, then sit down with you.
I think I am exhausted now.
Thanks for stoppin' by!
Jen

Neighbor kids

I love my neighbor's kids.
They are adorable.
I came home from the grocery store to see her two little boys setting up an ambush.
What are they ambushing?
Well, let me tell you, they hid behind the large bush accross the street and laid in wait for cars to come through the intersection. Well, when the cars would stop at the stop sign, the kids would jump out and just pelt the cars with snowballs. I laughed so hard.
It reminded me of my brother and sister when they were kids and doing the exact same thing.
Of course, I did let the neighbor know what her kids were doing.
I know, total loss of cool points.
I would have been mad if it had been my cars.
But they weren't, so it was funny.
Thanks for stoppin' by!
Jen

Happy Valentine's Day!

So Friday night was my Valentine's Day gift from DH.
You already know about the note he left me on Friday telling me to pack my bags.
If you don't, you can see it again here: Surprises
Well, I survived. He had Carlos the limo driver pick me up and take me downtown to the Skirvin Hilton Hotel.
It is amazing.
This hotel was established in the early 1900's and just underwent a major remodel.

So, anyways, Carlos drops me off and I go to the front desk to get my room key.

The nice lady at the front desk hands me my key and tells me my room number and that it is on the sixth floor.

Ok, not too hard, so I get on the elevator and get off at the sixth floor.

I am really excited at this point.

So excited, that I forgot what room was ours.

I thought she said 606. So I went to 606. Yeah, I couldn't get in. So I am nervous and think well, maybe she said 612. So I go to 612. No luck.

Yes, I feel like a crazy person at this point. I am so glad nobody opened the doors to their rooms and asked me what I thought I was doing. That could have been really weird.

I head to the elevator. I can't take it if I try again and someone who is not my DH opens the door.

I am really dreading asking the girl at the front desk, "So, what room am in, again? "

Yeah, not wanting to do that. I get my cell phone and call DH,

"Hello?"

"Uh, Babe?"

"Yes?" he asks.

"So, you are not going to believe this, but I feel really stupid and you can't make fun of me and I don't want to go back downstairs and ask the girl at the front desk, but, uh, what room are we in?" I ramble out. Remember, this is a surprise.

Crickets on the other end, then he bursts out laughing and tells me our room number.

No, I never would have tried that number, not in a million years.

UGH!

DH picked the flower arrangement. These flowers do not come with the room.

I love this bathroom.

I get ready for dinner and text him and Carlos to let them know I am ready.

They pull into the front and we get back in the limo and head to our dinner reservations at: 

Drum Roll, please, The Mantle.

It's a pretty good restaurant down in Bricktown. We had the second ever most amazing 14 oz bone in fillet. Yes, we split the entree. It was 14 ounces of the most delicious and tender fillet we have had in a while. The only downer was that our server did not like his job nor did he like Valentine's so he was in a crummy mood. His service was the worst service we have had in the last three times we have been to the Mantle. But that is okay, we had a great meal and I did not have to do the dishes.

Next stop is at Rooster's Chicken and Beer in Bricktown. It is a bar and chicken joint in the Old Wells Fargo building.

Digression: One thing about living here, you can give directions through Oklahoma City and Guthrie, Oklahoma by using landmarks like, The Old Wells Fargo building. Or Just south of the Old Pizza Hut in Guthrie. (There is a Mexican Food Joint in the Old Pizza Hut Building and our favorite Italian joint is Romas, which is south of the Old Pizza Hut).

Our friend, Chris is the general manager and our other buddy, L.V., waits tables and is the owner's son.

We finish the night at Rooster's and then head back to the hotel for champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and the softest sheets ever.

I slept so well, I got up the next morning and used a search engine to see if I could track down where to get these sheets.

This is DH waiting for the valet to bring our car around.
This lobby is amazing.
I love him, he made a wonderful surprise.


Have a Happy Valentine's Day!
Jen

Surprises

I just walked in the door from work and what do I find?
A little note from Darling Husband (duck taped to the door) saying:
Your ride has been arranged for you for tonight.   (RIDE?!?)
I need for you to get an overnight bag packed.    (WHAT?!?!?)
I have your clothes for tonight already picked out and they will be at the hotel you will be going to.
(Uh-Oh. He picked my clothes.)
If you don't trust what I picked you can bring something that you pick as long as it is a dress.
(WHEW!)
The key to your room will be at the front desk.
I will hand write a number for you to text around 5:30 for your ride to get you.
When you get to the hotel, take your time getting ready.
We have reservations at 8:30.
Text the same number around 8:00 and I will meet you and we will go out for dinner.
Hope you love it.

Isn't that sweet?
Wish me luck!
Thanks for stoppin' by!
Jen

Just checkin' in

Yes, it is still miserably cold outside. As in, it was -10 Fahrenheit on my way to work this morning.
I had to get gas this morning to make it to work.
It sucked.
But, I got a lovely sunrise.

I got to see Rebel and Rocks play in the snow.

And I got to make supper.

Yep, thems pork chops on my grill. And that white stuff is snow.

Don't it look good?

Looks better on the plate.

(I don't really like pork chops, but DH loves them. I have my own though, he doesn't like green beans and I do. HA-HA! Evil snickering)

Thanks for stoppin' by!
Jen

Where REAL Marines are made: East or West « Marines Blog

I really loved this article!
I could do with out the commentary because I feel that are way too many "haters" out in the world but I did enjoy the contrast.

Where REAL Marines are made: East or West « Marines Blog

Thanks for stoppin' by!
Jen

New Computers

Well, this weekend, my old faithful Toshiba finally bit the dust. It had been making really weird growly noises for the last couple of days and I knew I needed to get our tax stuff done soon.
Good news, I had just finished printing out DH's business tax paperwork to get it ready to go to the accountant before it crashed.
Bad news, it totally burned before I could do our personal stuff.
I tried deinstall/ reinstall to no avail.
So we got a new computer yesterday.
I don't know if I totally love it yet. I am going from PC to Mac and it is really scary. I am fluent in Quickbooks PC, but this Mac Quickbooks stuff is pretty intense to get used to doing.
Some of the keyboard shortcuts are the same, so that is a plus.
I totally love the zoom feature to review images.
Oh my goodness, I love this reverse scissor maneuver on the mouse pad to get the image to zoom in for better viewing. It is even in focus! It was great. That was probably my favorite feature for today.

I spend all day looking at jpeg images for work, so I am kind of disappointed that the left and right arrow keys do not move between files like they do on the PC. Disappointed is a little understated.

I wanted to scream that I had to mouse to red light to close the image and then double click to open a new image. I must be doing something wrong, so I am going to go and watch yet another online tutorial to see if there is something nifty and magical (Jen speak for what ever the keyboard shortcuts are) that will save me time and blood pressure.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Jen

SnOklahoma 2011

Well, on the one hand, I got to work from home today!
YAY! It was awesome. On the other hand, it started snowing again.
I know we need the moisture, but at this point, I don't know who has the worse cabin fever, me, or Rebel and Rocksanne.
I will let you you know...
Thanks for stoppin by!
Jen

Reasons to feel Blessed

One of my friends who is just a wonderful person has a 'Thankful Thursday' piece she writes on assorted Thursdays. You can find Nicole here at her blog:  Sizzlin' Savages .

Anyways, I have been cooped up in the house for two and a half days and her blog inspired me to come up with a short list of Reasons to feel Blessed.

1. I quit smoking two years and seventeen days ago. I feel blessed because with a wind chill of -13 (OMG!) Fahrenheit, I do not have to go outside for ten minutes every hour on the hour.

2. I am not a dog. I feel blessed because I don't have to go outside to find a tree when I need to uh, you know.

3. I have indoor plumbing. I feel blessed because, well, see number 2 above. (Oops, no pun intended, that is not (or was it?) what I meant). Don't worry, there is no Number 2 in the picture with the dogs.

4. Several of my friends have lost power due to 'SnOklahoma 2011.' DH, Rebel, Rocksanne, and I all feel blessed because it is just cold out and with all the indigent people that are in the world, we are safe, warm, and have all of our utilities.

5. I have more reasons, but Darling Husband needs me to take more pictures of him clearing snow while I am inside enjoying the warmth and making chili.

Stay warm, and thanks for stoppin' by!

  

Jen

PS: Nicole, thanks for the idea to note why I feel blessed. It was fun!

Happy Wednesday!

Well, day 2 of "Snoklahoma" 2011!
Still cooped up in the house. Still can't go to work.
So I took a few pictures from assorted vantage points INSIDE my house...

The wind has been blowing the snow across the street.

My poor neighbors.

View out of the back window of the upstairs game room.

Still BRRRR!!

Rocksanne walking around checking out this weird white stuff.

Rebel seriously debating if he really wanted outside or not.

This makes me cold. I am going to get something warm to drink.

Stay warm and thanks for stoppin' by!

Jen

Gaps in Time

We all have random gaps in time. Sometimes those gaps are made up of the neglect of our favorite things.
Sometimes those gaps cover up dark moments in time. Sometimes, we just can't make time to address all of our responsibilites.
Sometimes we are just enjoying life and have to learn how to prioritize.
Sometimes we blink and we miss the best moments.
The best moments where we spend a few hours with a 95 year old man and his wife telling us about how they spent Christmases in Iowa before the (gasp!) internet.
The best moments where we spend a small amount of time with our parents and we talk about how we hope their grandchildren are able to realize their dreams. Or we spend a few hours with a loved one enjoying an unexpected snow day.
Don't blink.
Make time to call a loved one today.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Jen

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What am I thankful for?
I came back from a four year stint with the Marines happy and whole.
I am thankful for my crazy wonderful stepmother, whose birthday is today. I won't tell you how old she is, but I can guarantee that with out her, my dad and I would be crazier than we are now. She has been a rock and a support for my family. Happy Birthday, mama!
I am thankful for my awesome dad. Very few women are blessed with fathers like mine.
I have a fantastic husband. Yes, he can be a jerk sometime, but can't we all be twerps at one time or another? Nobody is perfect. Nobody.
I am thrilled that I have wonderful in-laws. Matter of fact, DH's little brother and his beautiful girlfriend are expecting.
I want to wish my stepmom a happy birthday, and everyone else, a very happy Thanksgiving!
Jen

Parents

Today is Wednesday, November 24, 2010. For the rest of the American citizens, this means last minute water baths on frozen turkeys to finish thawing. Or maybe it means pie crust rolling, homemade bread dough kneading, or even potato peeling. For others, it means traveling many miles to spend one day with family.
For me, it is the day before my stepmom's birthday. It is two days before my dad's birthday. (Yes, I know I should use stepmother and father, but that takes away from their 'awesomeness'. ) (Is that a punctuation nightmare or what!?!?)
Wish them luck, they are riding the motorcycle to Shreveport, Louisiana from Central Texas. That is their plan for Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jen

Random Pictures

These are two random pics of Reb and Rocks.

They make me happy. (The pics and the mutts)
Have a great day!
Jen

Movie Night!

Stockyards City Main Street Presents:


Movie Night at the Rodeo Opry!

When: Friday, November 19 at 7:00pm

Where: Rodeo Opry, 2221 Exchange Ave., 73108

FREE ADMISSION!

In recognition of Oklahoma's Statehood Day, Rodeo Opry is playing The Man from Oklahoma, starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Movie Synopsis:

Jim Gardner, hoping to acquire the Pine Valley section around Cherokee City, Oklahoma, for the oil rights, instigates and renews an old time feud between the Lanes and the Whittakers as each faily own half the valley.

So WRRONNGG!

I am so wrong! I know it was bad. I couldn't help myself.

Here is a pic of Jennie's desk.

No Jennie. But it has someone's purse. We will call her 'A'.  She has an annoying habit of being a princess. 'A' gets on Jennie and my nerves.

Did I mention Jennie is out sick today? With Strep Throat?
Well, she is. She called me after her doctor appointment to let me know that that little tickle in the back of her throat yesterday was going to keep her home for a day or two.
So anyways, 'A' comes in today. She flops her purse on to Jennie's desk. Never asks where Jennie is at, just sits down and spreads her junk all over the top of the desk.
She sits down, boots up Jennie's computer, and just moves right in.
'A' then gets up, goes into the workroom, then comes back with a sheaf of papers. She places them in a folder and with a flourish puts the folder into my "New Sale" Rack.
'A' next flops her body into Jennie's chair and says, "now, how do I check my email?"
I tell her, "I don't know, but hey, don't forget to wash your hands when you are done, Jennie is out with Strep Throat today."
Her expression was priceless!
Now, before you get mad about me endangering some unsuspecting person's life, yes, I cleaned the desk this morning right after Jennie called me.
I am not that evil. ;)
Thanks for Stoppin' By!
Jen