Another Lovely, Long Weekend

Happy Memorial Day, indeed! Had a wonderful visit with my darling husband Michael, this time in his home and hometown.

The flight ended up getting to Denver with time for me to get a personal pan supreme pizza at Pizza Hut, and still get to the next terminal via the train in time for boarding. This flight was one of the most fun I've had in a while. Sat next to an Army PFC (E-3) and an Air Force Master Sergeant (E-7)... and between us, we talked the entire hour-or-so flight into Oklahoma City about our respective experiences. Derek, the PFC, worked on communications antennas out in the field, had been in the Army for a couple years, been deployed to Afghanistan, and had been missing his family for over a year and a half! He was on his way to see them! He mentioned how hard it was getting to stay in. In both their branches they called it "chaptering" a person when they get administratively separated. Caleb, the Master Sergeant looked about ten years younger that he actually was, so we were both shocked to learn that he was an E-7. He works with radar, and talked a lot about leadership. Very fun conversations!

It was so good to see Michael again! Even if it only was three weeks since we were together last. He had a chocolate shake for me from Brahms, waiting in the car. We stopped to pick up dinner at Jimmy Johns at Campus Corner in Norman, then went home and relaxed together.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at Jimmy Egg... couldn't decide between pancakes and an omelet, but I ended up not needing too since small pancakes came with the omelet I ordered! :) Good as ever! We had gone there after coming back from the honeymoon in September.

Continued on to the Fred Jones Museum of Art on campus, especially to see their private collection of Disney animation cells, many of them autographed. Interestingly, they used my very favorite in advertising it... Aurora in the forest with the animals. But there were a couple other galleries that we hadn't seen before, so the trip was definitely worth it. Mike recognized "Spring in the Steppe" from a poster in the law school, and we both admired our favorite by Daniel Ridgway Knight, "Early Morning on the Ozie".

Managed another trip to the Duck Pond, east of campus behind the football stadium. What gets me every time is how this was where the Husky Band ate lunch, that first time I came to Norman, in 2006 (two years before I knew Mike!). We were quickly deprived of the loaf of bread we brought, predominately from the goslings and the very pushy geese. There was also a mommy mallard with 13 babies! They got a good share too. In order to catch the last planetarium show at the science center (by the zoo) we got take out from La Baguette for lunch and hurried the half-hour north to make it just in time for the 4pm show. It was geared for kids, but we enjoyed it too... the last one I had seen was at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago last January.
Since we were there, we saw the Zoo for a little while too. Loved how the bears were active on the Oklahoma Trail exhibit... the pair of them were swimming when we walked up and they got out, shook and and rubbed themselves on trees... and we loved the badger, the prairie dogs, the river otters, the bison, the eagles, the bats, the owls, etc. :)

Back in Norman we stopped at Homeland for some very fresh Salmon and corn-on-the-cob for dinner, and while we ate, we watched Crocodile Dundee for some laughs. Late at night we took the dog for a romp around the North Oval on campus.

Sunday was great! Church in the morning, great to visit again, then Interurban for brunch. Gathered ourselves together then drove the hour-plus down to Lawton to visit Mike's friend Kay (who also loves aquariums) and then Judy & Dickie and then drive with them to meet Connie at Salas, a local Mexican restaurant. Stayed a while longer at Judy's afterwords and had a long, leisurely conversation. Back at home we took the dog out again... it was very late by the time we fell asleep.

We had two old reliables for meals on Monday. Cracker Barrel for brunch, and Red Lobster for dinner, just before we had to head to the airport around 7. Right after brunch we headed north to the historic town of Guthrie, just to see the old buildings from the state's first capital and look around. We poked our heads in an interesting antiques store (finding some Donald Duck & Rocky and Bullwinkle comics) and just browsed. Stopped in a chocolate shop as well and enjoyed a few home-made treats! The town's Carnegie Library building was being used for the Frontier Museum, but it was closed Mondays & Holidays. Stopped in a little restaurant for some lemonade and to shield ourselves from the blistering hot weather. Then we drove back to Norman for dinner. Listened to a Burns & Allen episode about Jack Benny on the way to the airport, so we really didn't think about parting until we got there. What a wonderful time we had together!

My plane was delayed for about a quarter-hour on the runway due to a massive thunderstorm that popped up just as we were getting ready to go. It pelted down rain and we could see quite a bit of lighting in the distance. When we finally took off, I could see the massive cloud bank to our right... flashes of lighting and even bolts sometimes going off like crazy. Amazed how smooth the ride was... we even could take off our belts as we leveled out... with the huge cloud not far away. Abruptly, we passed the edge of it, heading out into the completely serene west with the sunset ahead of us. Mike told me that he had loads of rain and hail by the time he got home too. What a time to fly! Flew straight to LAX, reading all the comics, finishing God Without Religion and starting An Illustrated History of Anti Submarine Warfare. :)

Jw

Made It to the Weekend

Wednesday I only had a couple hours at home, due to Duty. I had brought dinner home from Jersey Mike's and watched a biography on T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia). I remembered seeing the Peter O'Toole film a long time ago, but documentaries are so much easier to follow and are much more wide-ranging. So I re-learned a bit of Middle Eastern history and enjoyed it very much. Decided to watch it that day because it was due that night. I did a little bit of shelving, and then stopped by the community room just outside to listen to the rest of the Peninsula Singers concert. They were singing American folk songs... I especially loved their slow, soft rendition of Dixie. Very meaningful and sad for me after watching the Civil War series.

Thursday I got home late due to the GMT, but I had time between that and class to go to Panera for a quick lunch. I worked at the library again, but this time just to kill time before heading out to Clairemont for a forty-foot film... Some Like it Hot (1959). Never had seen the film before, so it was a lot of fun. Laughed my head off a few times. Loved how it was filmed in San Diego at the Del Hotel on Coronado. I stuck to my guns and only got a small popcorn since I had a bowl of noodles, chips & guac, and a scoop of ice cream beforehand.

Yesterday, Friday, I slept for a solid 4 hours after coming home from my final test. Watched an episode of Foyle's War, then had a nice dinner at Sammy's Pizza, then drove up to Sunset Cliffs Blvd to watch the ocean for a while. I needed some rest, and since it was cloudy, it wasn't too crowded. On my way back home I finished listening to the final disc of Watership Down, an epic saga about bunnies. Had always been interested in it, but never could keep going in such a long book. Very glad for audio versions!

Today after eating breakfast at home (and fighting another battle with ants in the kitchen) I intended to go to the library for just a minute, to turn in and pick up, but when I got there, they were in the middle of a crisis... lol. One of the clerks asked me if I wanted anything from the coffee shop across the street, I was helping her so much. Worked for a long time on the holds, then on a couple of carts that needed sorting, then I re-shelved a cartload of audio downstairs and put the disheveled movies back together again. The general public can sometimes behave like a tornado... at least in the media room. Turned out I stayed for 4 hours! I chuckled to myself that although I had wanted to go straight to the zoo, I ended up working in one!

I decided to go to the zoo afterwords anyway. It was about 2:30ish that I got there, and I stayed till 5. Saw lots of baby ducks, had a chili dog, saw a very active grizzly bear and a feeding panda (and a romping panda), then continued on to see the lions, capybara, tapir, lamas and elephants. I saw a gorilla from the gondola... :) my feet were so tired there was no way I was going to walk all the way back. Good thing the $45 entrance fee was free for me... I bought a panda t-shirt, a model okapi, and a very cute, cuddle-able red panda stuffed animal.

On the plate tonight: mac'n cheese and asparagus at home! And chat too! I think I'll give my friend Julie a call too!

Jw

The Weekend With My Darling

They let us go early on Friday (yes, the 13th)... after I grabbed some Chipotle for lunch, and realized that neither Emily or my landlady were home, I was able to catch a ride from Liz before she went home so I'd get to the airport in plenty of time... and I certainly had some down time. Ate lunch, chatted with a Marine family (it was Friday... graduation), and went shopping. Bought Tim Tebow's new book that I ran into on Amazon the other day (all about his upbringing and college days). Also got the cutest little dolphin necklace and a new pair of sunglasses. Talked to my family while I waited at the gate, and then it was time! Read the first half of the book on the flights (transferring in Houston) and rested. Found gummy worms and turkey jerky at the Bass Pro Outlet store... ah, Houston. The place was so big it took forever to get to my little plane (3 across) that was out on the tarmac. Just on time.

Met Michael at baggage claim around 11ish, and on the way home we had a snack at a second Burger King (the first was closed, despite all its signs) and Mike had gotten me a chocolate shake from Braum's . I think we stopped by Homeland for something, but soon we were home trying to calm Charlie down. Don't think I've ever seen him particularly unenthusiastic. :)

Next morning (Saturday) we were up around 7ish... had breakfast, did last minute packing, and we were off to the train station just a few blocks away. It was freezing and in the 30s as we walked from the car to the station across the tracks, but it was refreshingly warm inside. The little station doubles as a dance studio... so it was very open and furnished with movable chairs. It was nearly a four-hour ride... but I loved every minute. We had seats in the lower car, but had to go up top to get over to the snack car: M&Ms, and a macadamia nut - white chocolate chip cookie, along with water and coffee. We spent most of the time looking out the big windows as the countryside, small towns, train stations and rivers fell behind us. I took a bit of a nap on Mike's shoulder, but he woke me in time to see the Red River as we crossed into Texas.

John and Sue were waiting for us at the station. We had to stop and get our tickets for the return trip, but then we were off. I hit it off with Sue from the start. We ended up having a lot in common; I think we'll make a trip back to see them someday! :) After a brief tour of the city, they took us home to relax and have lunch. A wonderful sandwich spread... ham, Swiss, veggies, and fruit on the side. They live at the restored Texas & Pacific Passenger Depot building, in the old office spaces above that have been converted into condos.

After we finished our lunch, we started out. They showed us the 1930s historic Post Office building next door, then we got in the car and visited the museum district. Saw the Kimbell Art Museum (where Sue and I ended up liking the same painting best - without knowing - at right) and then the Amon Carter Museum of American painters, photographers & sculptors (with a feature exhibit on Frederick Remington). After this, we drove over to the Stockyards, and enjoyed a very Texas dinner at Riscky's BBQ. We were very tired after all of this and returned to their home for a very nice evening.

Sunday, we were so rested it was easy getting up at eight-thirty-ish. A magnificent breakfast awaited us after our showers. Fried red potatoes, sausage links, scrambled eggs and V8 juice, for me. We pretty much stayed on our plan and got to the Fort Worth Zoo about 11... an hour after they opened. Great one! And we've seen a lot of zoos! :) I especially loved their tigers... two white and two orange... and all walking around. Also impressive was the lion, the rhino, the reptile house, the elephants and the parakeets. All these were so up-close-and-personal. The elephants were literally a couple feet away.

Had a late lunch downtown at a pizza place before stopping at Walgreens for snacks and returning home to pack and get ready for the train. We watched our wedding slide show together after we were all ready, and then we took off for the cho0-choo. This time we got a forward-facing car. Watched the sunset to our left and then a movie when it was dark... "Navy Blue & Gold" (1937, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Young) about some football players for the academy. We started "The Ice Follies of 1939", also with Jimmy, but we soon realized why we had never heard of it before. :) Back in Norman around 9:30ish, we stopped at Mike's favorite Chinese Buffet for some take-out for dinner at home. Finished up "Red River" (1948, John Wayne) while we ate.

Monday we took it pretty easy. Waffles and eggs for breakfast, watched half of a film on TCM for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sat outside while Charlie played around, then got some bread at Homeland and fed many ducks and geese at the duck pond, east of campus. We were quickly bereft of bread. It was so fun... the big ducks looked like they were attacking us in formation. And the swarm of red-winged blackbirds was an incredible sight (and sound).

For another late lunch/early dinner, we ate at The Service Station, across the street from our church. I had Mexican, and Mike had a hamburger, I think. Up until that point, we'd been getting the same exact thing... fried catfish at the BBQ place and chicken fettuccine at the pizza place. John and Sue must have thought we were crazy. :)

And then the time came for me to leave. Stupid security stole my key chain pocket knife that I forgot about (several airports had let it through) and I characteristically cried as I walked to the gate. I was already sad... just pushed me over the edge. My flight was a little late, but no matter. Had a mushroom & Swiss Angus burger at McDonald's in Houston, along with a yogurt parfait and a small salad. Finished Tebow's book by the time I reached SD... got a taxi, and soon I was in bed.

Jw

...the Facebook album...

Welcome to the Warren

Mike picked us up this morning (again, later because of a late night) and we all piled in Josephine for a drive to Bricktown and lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Meg and Jason treated us to lunch... some very good meaty spaghetti... and then we went to see 'Despicable Me in 3D' at the Warren theater in Moore. This place is big and fancy. Decorated in a retro fashion with attendants in dress shirts and ties as they sold popcorn and took tickets. The movie itself was our *only* option :) and it was pretty fun. Made lots of fun of evil masterminds and had lots of funny cliches about them. Afterwords we had burgers and shakes at their authentically retro diner before going back to Mike's.

We watched The African Queen... which was very surprising at the end... :) and then a couple episodes of Remember WENN before we said goodnight... a nice relaxing day. :)

Jp

Fives

As I biked along the Sammamish River trail tonight at 5:05 pm (I like to keep track of how fast I go), I saw a Mallard swimming on the river. But I had to stop and watch her because I noticed a little one with her. When I looked closer (while not going 15 MPH) I saw that she had 5 of them flitting around her. Cute little things. I love how they zip around Mommy.

I had not yet gone 5 minutes more before I saw two ladies standing near the river, peering down over the edge, so I stopped because I noticed three Canadian geese and lots of young ones. As they jumped off the bank into the river I counted twelve. So cute! And just around the corner was mile post 5.

So I biked for an hour for 15 miles (another day, another hour ride), going all the way from Woodinville to Marymoor Park in Redmond. Some high school baseball games were being played, so I stopped for a second and watched. And I noticed on all the backstops they had signs saying "Marymoor Wi-Fi Hotspots" for free Internet. What? So Mom's and Dad's can ignore their kid's games? Oh well. Strange day and age we live in.

And I finally finished planning my big New England trip! I've been planning and re-planning since I bought airplane tickets in February and before. Yay! It's in just under three weeks! Yay! And that was pretty much all of yesterday. I tried to do a Navy workout, but it got canceled. I'm just giving excuses for not working out as much as I should. :)

What a beautiful day, again!
Jp