Monday, April 23, 2012

Bucket List: Items #24 and #53


Today was a perfect Saturday.  The hot rod was up and running.  It was a beautiful, cool morning.  One of our goals has been put the hot rod in a parade (bucket list item #24).  This morning we loaded up a trash sack full of candy and drove about two miles to line up in the 89ers Day Parade.  EM's car club was in the parade, probably 40 cars.  After the parade, 170 cars entered a car show nearby.  The car show entry fee went to the Health and Shelter For Friends.

AT and her friend rode on the back of the backseat in the hot rod/convertible.  We had told AT that she had to ride in the parade, but it was her choice whether she asked a friend.  Being an young teen, it took her a while to decide.  You never know if your peers will like a particular activity.  But she and her friend both seemed to have a blast.  It was great fun watching everyone waiting for the candy and admiring the cars.  Of course, we ran out of candy before the end of the route, mainly due to EM throwing out huge handfuls of candy.  I finally stopped him.   One friend claimed we injured her with candy; I think she exaggerates.

From the parade, we pulled around to park at the car show.  AT and friend wandered around and, within an hour, peeled off to go with her friend's mother.  I walked about a mile back  to the beginning of the parade to pick up the truck then went home for a nap.  Our house was only about a mile from the parade and the car show.  After my nap, I went back to the car show.   EM and I hung out, waiting for the car show winners.  Of 170 entries, there were 35 winners.  All but 2 were numbers 100 and above.  EM was number 18.  Hmmmm....  Did we have a chance?  Anyway, it was fun watching people walk by the car and admire it. 

The car show was over at about two o'clock.  We were without child, with a convertible than needed to put miles on it, on a beautiful day.  EM came up with the idea of going to Eischen's in Okarche (bucket list item #53).   It is about a hour from our house.  We drove through Oklahoma City, and continued until we were in rolling hills and farmland.  The downtown of Okarche was only two blocks long and looked not very prosperous.  The town, however, was immaculate, homes in a variety of styles and values, but yards that were well-groomed.  The only booming business downtown was Eischen's Bar.  Now, move away from this blog, go to YouTube, and search for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Eischen's Bar".  Watch it.  I'll wait here....

Inside, the atmosphere was definitely bar-like, but the place was filled with families, small children, and little old ladies.  We entered the bar.  We ordered a whole chicken, a beer and a wine cooler.  While we were waiting, EM and I played a game of pool (that was a joke in itself - my pool-playing abilities are pitiful) with two little boys watching us.  EM offered to pay for a game of pool for them, but they said they were too little.  And they probably were.

And the two of us ate a whole chicken (cut into pieces).  I have never done that in my life, but I have never had a whole chicken with no other sides.  I would have ordered the fried okra if there had been more people sharing food, but it was a huge order.  There were 10 people behind the bar, working as fast as if they were putting out a fire.  Basket after basket of whole chickens came out of the back.  Our plates were sheets of wax paper.  The chicken came only with sweet butter pickles and fresh onions that had been in soaking in the pickle juice plus white bread.  There are no other "sides".  There was no "healthy" food on site.

My momma makes wonderful fried chicken.  Matter-of-fact, when we happen to eat fried chicken out, we usually say, "This is not as good as Mother's fried chicken.".  When Mother makes her fried chicken, it's just elbows and forks at the table.  Well, this chicken just just as good as hers.   Mother's gets an extra point for having a pulley bone, which Eischen's did not have.  But Eischen's had onion slices in pickle juice. Score one for Eischen's.  It's a draw.

After our drive back to Norman, we dropped in on some good friends, who were gracious enough to welcome us.  Then, off to pick up AT from her friend's house.  A perfect Saturday.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Free Associations: My Week


My husband and daughter both drew me up short this week, reminding me that "other people have real problems" and "don't volunteer if you don't want to do something".  I was a bit busy and whiny one night, after going until 9 or 10 each night.  That's unusual for me.  Our lives are calmer than that most of the time.

Thursday, EM, with much excitement, drove to the city to pick up his hot rod.  It has been at the car upholstery shop for over six weeks.  Instead of hotrod, we call the car the convertible around here, but that doesn't convey to other people that it is his hobby car, so I've started calling it the hot rod to other people.  The last "official" work has been done on that car.  I say "official", because he will always be tinkering with it.  He has been almost lost without it in his garage the past few weeks.  The car now has a new convertible top, carpet lining in the inside and trunk, and door panel linings.  He brought it home at 8 in the morning.  It was his plan that I take off from my work in the early morning to bring back the red car.  But, being our CRT week at school (CRT = state standardized testing), I was testing and there was NO flexibility with that schedule.  

So, at 6:20 PM, we arrived at the car upholstery shop, to pick up the red car, which he had left there.  The shop had closed at 5:00.  As we pulled up, to our shock and dismay,   we could see that the red car had been hit and was wrecked badly.  Someone had backed into the car, pushing it about two feet back.  We (translate: EM) love our cars.  Once we owed a Metro for a short time, and EM even fell in love with that car, proudly showed it off, a car that once couldn't pull four people up a hill.  We once literally had to get out so the car could get up hill.

Anyway, EM is a great shade-tree mechanic.  He keeps our cars in pristine shape.  Most dings are repaired.  EM has bonded with the body shop owner and stops by to visit him on a regular basis.  The inside our cars are kept clean.  AT and I try to clutter the inside of the cars, but we manage to keep it to a minimum.  The oil is changed regularly;  the tires are rotated.  Our favorite white van, that was totaled while we were on vacation in Pennsylvania, had 300,000+ miles on it and showed no signs of stopping.  This newly wrecked red car has 150,000 miles on it and we planned to drive it for many miles more.    

But here's the rub.  When you total a well-care-for  and loved car, the insurance company does not love your car like you do.  Chances are very good that the red car will be totaled.  If so, they will write us a check, which is worth much less to us that the red car is worth to us.  We don't know how this is going to play out.  One possibility, if it is totaled, will be that we buy it from the insurance, and repair it ourselves.  We have to wait until Tuesday for the insurance estimate.

AT is trying out to be a cheerleader Saturday.  I am very proud of her.   She had worked hard.  I don't know cheer lingo so I need to study.  She can do a triple back tuck, one of only two girls who can.  Hope that helps.  She has been spent several evenings away from home, practicing.  She also had CRTs this week.  It's been a tough week for her also, and she may have handled it better than I did.  While I'm not really thrilled that she wants to be a cheerleader (would have been more excited about a botball expert), but she has worked very hard on this and I am pleased with her work ethic.  

I can see the end of the year approaching.  I just finished the last of my big evaluations/ paperwork this week.  I will have to schedule a few more meetings, but the most difficult ones are behind me.  I do like my job, but it is very fast paced.  I hit the ground running hard every morning.  This week, a parent asked a paraprofessional if I always moved that fast.  Yes, I do.  My schedule is packed with students and reports.  My organizational style, unfortunately, is to not organize my desk when I have more pressing things to do such as write reports or see children.  I just can't justify making my desk pretty when there are more pressing things to do.  This week, I just may get to clean off that desk!  We're out of school on May 18th.  I already feel relaxed on Sunday evenings, knowing that the more relaxing days are coming soon.  I already have my list of projects.  Whoops!  That doesn't sound relaxing.  Well, I plan to work and relax. 

Oh, and what a treat!  Friday, I raced a tornado.  We were expecting an unsettled weekend, weather-wise, but expected it to start after school.  Friday, the buses were loaded about 15 minutes early, to try to get students home before the tornado hit.  Two years ago, we had a horrible tornado at our school and community (not in Norman proper, where I live).  There was a death, debilitating injuries, and homes blown away.  Our administration building was blown away.  So we're a bit scared from it.  Friday, the buses all left and I left at my regular time.  Apparently, the buses were called back to the school and some people stayed until after five o'clock.  Our area survived the tornado, luckier than some other areas in the state.  

Free associations:  the end.

Monday, April 2, 2012

My Girls!


I just glanced at my back patio and wished again for the healing, deep laughter of last Saturday night.  I have a wonderful group of lady friends and we were all on the patio last weekend.  Our plan is to get together every month.  But, you know, the best laid plans....  It was the first time in months that we had been together. These are busy ladies.  All are working.  All are married and most still have teenagers at home.   There have been months when I've had too much going on at home to meet up with the others.  We have kick-started our group again recently.  Hopefully.  Permanently. 

We are all in the elementary teacher field, which gives us a twisted sense of humor.  You should hear us hooting and hollering about school experiences.    I think it is similar to medical humor.  Unless you are in the field, you don't need to hear it.  One person reported on the naked neighbor, one on supervisor problems and another with amazing news of a wedding the previous weekend (her own! - on the down-low).  One can do great impressions of any wayward elementary student she meets.  Lots of laughing.  Loud, raucous laughter.  Laughter that stretches to the bottom of your toes.  Something that we all needed. 

Almost every single person in the group of eight has has gone through a serious tragedy in the past few years.  The group has literally dealt with death, near death, and very serious illnesses.  There have been very tough moments, financially, personally, and professionally.  Each person managed it with such strength.  The changes will affect the rest of our lives.  Some appeared to have recovered.  For others, the scars are deeper.   We are ladies in our 50s (well, there may be one not there yet, my apologies to you!).  The natural drama of our lives is going to speed up, not slow down. 

These are my models for how to move into the future.  One person is special because she in "my friend" and strong.  Another is wise.  One is brave.  One is creative.  One is loving.  One is classy and calm.  One is a seeker.  All can laugh.  The years ahead will hold increasing challenges.  Here's to many years together! God bless us all.