Oklahoma Centennial

Oklahoma celebrates it's 100 years of statehood this year. It was the 46th State incorporated into the Union. Before statehood it was known as Indian Territory and before that it was part of the Louisiana Purchase. The word “Oklahoma” comes from two Choctaw words that mean, Land of the Red Man.

This is a Redbud tree (Cercis Canadensis) it is the state tree of Oklahoma, I have one in my front yard.

Ingrid Michaelson

This is Ingrid, she doesn't know it yet but she is my new woman. I'm planning a trip to New York soon to surprise her. I sure hope the stalking laws there are more lenient than they are here.



“The Way I Am”

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
If you need a light, I'd find a match.

Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
If your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.
I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all
your hair.
And sew on patches to all you tear.

Cuz I love you more than I could ever
promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.

What More Could Anyone Want ?

My mother and father have already passed away. Emily never met them. They were good parents, I have no complaints. Only regrets. My brother just passed away not too long ago. I miss him almost every day. I see things that remind me of him everywhere. I see things I know he would like or be interested in, I see things or have moments that I would like to share with him. I wonder what he would think about certain things. I would like to hear his voice or see him smile.
My regrets about family that have passed on is that I did not tell them I loved them enough. I had plenty of chances but just did not do it. I wished that I had spent more time with them. I wish that I had done more for them or that I had given them more. A lot of times it would have been easy, I just didn’t think about it.
My daughter Emily tells me she loves me probably ten times a day. She hugs me everyday and kisses me before she goes to bed and when she get’s home from school. She does something (many things) for me everyday. When I am gone I hope she realizes this and has no regrets, only good thoughts. Everyday she gives me the things that I wish I had given the people that I love. What more could anyone want.

We Celebrate Our Blacksheep

Most families might shy away from the truth about having an Outlaw in the family tree. Not rednecks or Shoemakes. We celebrate the fact, even brag about them when given the chance. We had relatives on both sides or the law. The deputy sheriff mentioned in the article, Dick Shoemake was my Great Grandpa's brother and his nephew Cole Shoemake was of course the outlaw. Go here to, "Wanted! On The Trail Of An Outlaw" and read the whole story. It even links the Shoemakes by acquaintance to the notorious outlaw, "Henry Starr" nephew of famed outlaw, "Belle Starr" anyway it's interesting reading and not too long. Click on the link and check it out.

It's Always Something

My 12 year old nephew Daniel, is a world class ranked kickboxing champion for his age and weight bracket. He is a remarkable kid. He is disciplined and works out regularly. He has surpassed his instructor and is looking for someone worthy of his caliber to train him. My brother got a call from his school today, it seems young Daniel was caught with a bag of Marijuana. Now he has been sentenced to 45 days of Alternative School. That’s a separate school for problem students and students needing disciplinary action other than what the mainstream school can provide. His story is that he found the bag at school and was not sure if it really was weed or not and that he wanted to bring it home to his dad to see if it was real or not. He says that he did not show it to anyone or mention it but two little punks narked on him and got him busted. Not to mention that the school called the police and now my brother is on his way to the police station to deal with them an the matter. Daniel is a good kid and I tend to believe him for the most part but still he is only 12 and still does not have the ability to make the best decisions all of the time. But what ever the truth may be it remains that two little punks narked on him and I’m sure that Daniel is a lot better kid than either of them. I wonder if they realize that he could mop the floor with both of them. Hell the weed is probably theirs. I hope the police go easy on him, he‘s been through enough already. This could be something that follows him around and blows up in his face someday. It only takes one mistake.

Concussed or Not.

My youngest brother James who is 36 is in the hospital tonight, he went to the emergency room just before dark, he was riding a friends dirt bike after work just as the sun was going down and he ran into an electrical box that was on the ground and partially obscured by tall weeds. They said he was going about 45 miles an hour when he hit it and went flying over the handlebars and landed on his head about 30 feet away. He got right up and went to see about the bike but he did not remember what happened, and although it was explained to him several times he kept asking and was getting a little emotional about it and seemed overly worried. They took him to the E.R. and the doctors confirmed that he was indeed concussed and last I heard were taking him in for a CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography or CT Scan). He has a good friend with him and my sister is there also, they should release him tonight and he lives with my sister anyway so she’ll take him home and keep an eye on him. And yes the dumbass was not wearing a helmet. It’s a good thing he landed on his head, it would have probably killed a normal human being. I thank the Lord that he is ok.

It's Cooling Off Some

I got out of the hospital in July of 2006 and I started a diet. I tried to change my lifestyle instead of just starting a diet because if you don’t change everything as soon as you slow down on the diet you start to gain it all back. I lost about 60 pounds before I started to slip back to the old ways. I’ve gained back a lot of the weight and I keep telling myself that I need to get motivated to do it again. I don’t want to start exercising to much in the beginning because adding muscle gets confusing with the loss of weight because muscle weighs more than fat so my plan will be the same as last time, lose the weight gradually changing eating habits instead of just doing away with all of the bad food all at once. Work on quantities then gradually switch to quality of food then add an exercise regimen. Then maybe I can get back to my fighting weight and become more mobile. I’d like to get out into the woods some this Fall and Winter and do some hunting and camping. I always feel more alive doing that than anything else.

It's An Itsy Bitsy, Teency Weency, Yellow...

I was just wondering if anyone was paying attention. Traffic around here has been kind of slow lately. Maybe I should post a few pictures of some buffed guys or something.

RF4RP

Hey Folks, you need to keep checking out Babs and My other site, "Real Food For Real People" (RF4RP) You can get some interesting recipes or even leave a few for us to post. It's a fun and creative way to share food ideas. Everybody has to eat so stop by and check it out. Good day and good eating

Hillbillies

Two Hillbilies wuz sittin' on a bench passin' the time a day, when one turned to the other and sez,

"Tell me sumptin' Jethro, if'n I wuz to bed yore wife Barbra Jeen, wood that make us kin?"

Jethro thot on it fer a spell and finally sez,

"Nope, jes even."