Lightning a little toooooo close

Okay, so I didn't even know it was raining. I knew a cold front was coming through to take the temps down to the mid 90's (believe me, that feels cool when the temps have been 105 for a couple of weeks). There I am, typing away at my computer. Had just gotten off the phone with Sister Carole. More on that later.

So I'm typing away and suddenly the electricity goes out. Then comes back on. Computer dies and re-whirrs. I check the clock, it is after going-home time so I grab my bag and turn off the lamp. Didn't need to turn the other lamp off because guess what, the electricity goes out again. THen comes right back on. Decide immediately that I will take the stairs instead of the elevator down to the parking lot. Good thinking, because as I hit flight #1 of the stairs, the electricity goes out again. Then comes right back on. Then I hear the alarm bell going off in an elevator. Yay me, good decision.

Carry on down to the doors leading to the parking lot. Tell the security guard to send someone to the elevator. There is a gaggle of people watching the rain. More accurately, watching the storm. Because the rain is blowing sideways. The little crepe myrtle bush in the parking lot is SIDEWAYS. Buckets of rain. Loads and loads and loads of rain. Falling. Very. Fast.

Now, here's where I get irritated. The unwritten rule around here is that you get to park in your boss's spot if the boss is away from the building. But I had to go by the tag agent this morning and was late getting to the office. And the new media guy is parked in MY spot! My boss's spot more like it, but .... STILL!!!! Wars have been fought over just such things. This spot is much much closer to the building than my own spot. However, at 9:15 this morning, it wasn't a problem.

Fast forward to 4:45 p.m. and it IS a problem. Would have been a few feet from my car door and wouldn't have gotten very wet (maybe). So since I didn't want to brave the storm across a huge parking lot, I waited with the gaggle of people. Some on their cell phones tracking the weather. God bless technology!

So the wind dies down and the sky lightens up and now it is only raining. Not blowing. I venture forth (having rolled up my pants legs). Out the door. Open the umbrella. On the sidewalk leading to those industrial trash containers near the loading dock.

Then it happens. CRASHBOOM***FLASH**** A lightning strike with terrifying pop of thunder .... RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!~!!!! Holy smokes, at eye level was a bright white sparkler. I was on the sidewalk and it hit the grass in front of me a few yards.

Me turns around and heads back to the safety of the building and let the rain pass a bit too......

Work pal says, glad you made it back!

No more thunder, just more rain. It lightens up a bit more. I head to the car and drive home. Trees down. Stop lights out. Traffic. Make it through downtown and the major traffic areas. On the highway finally to get home. No rain here. What? No evidence of rain either.

It never ceases to amaze me .... more rain than can be handled in one area, and another area of town gets not a drop.

But I'm glad to not be dead from a lightning strike. Has anyone else had a close encounter?

And how do you like my little drawing above to depict my afternoon drive?

This is My Town

Found myself at the top of the tallest building in OKC at noon today, so of course had to take some pics! It is the tallest building (for now) ... and also the building I was in when the bomb went off that fateful April 19, 1995. But nevermind that, here's a quick tour of My Town:


The Skirvin Hotel. This sadly sat vacant for many, many years, until the Hiltons breezed in and remodeled. It is once again a shining star in downtown OKC. The architecture is by Solomon Layton who designed many buildings in OKC early in its history.

Nearby is a revitalized area called "Deep Deuce". This area again was derelict (derelect?) for a long, long time. But how CUTE are these condos that are going in? If I was a single gal about town and if there were somewhere to shop for groceries around here, I'd be tempted ... Deep Deuce area was known for its jazz back in the 20's and was the home to electric guitar pioneer Charlie Christian. Not that I've ever heard any of his music.

I have no idea what this building is called now. It used to be the Kerr-McGee Building. This is the one mentioned in "Silkwood" (that old movie starring Meryl Streep and Cher). .... I worked there for a short time many MANY years ago. Pre-babygirl. This is the building, however, that shielded where I was from damage in the bombing. It absorbed the impact, so the building I was in lost no windows, had no damage, etc. The K-M building, however, lost all its windows. See that smaller white building just caddy-corner from the K-M building? That is the apartment building where the video tape of Tim McVeigh was taken ... it showed the Ryder truck on the street. So the bombing took place in an area you can't see due to this Kerr-McGee Building. That apartment complex was also heavily, heavily damaged and I am surprised they didn't have to tear it down.

Zooming in here on "Kerr Park". This is a little mini-ampitheater and oasis of water fountains in downtown OKC. When I worked downtown for many years, there would be lunchtime concerts at the ampitheater and I brown-bagged plenty of times. Now, I'd be thinking it is way too hot to sit outside and eat lunch. The joys of getting older, eh?

Looking back to the east a bit, now we zoom in to the State Capitol building and government office complex buildings -- Tax Commission, Education Department, Historical Society, Wildlife, etc. I can look out one of these windows during the day but I'm not telling which.

This is My Town (now singing the Montgomery Gentry song)...

MUTE MONDAY - Classic

Busy Saturday and End of the Stay-Cay

The last of Pam’s week long stay-cay of mental health ended on a high note with the semi-regular luncheon of the law firm survivor’s group of gals … you will remember that we decided to do better about staying in touch after the untimely death by car accident of one of the group.  We all worked together back in the (cough cough) early 80’s, not that any of us are old enough to have been in our working careers at that time.

This month’s eating extravaganza took place at “Lakeside” restaurant, which is right on Lake Hefner.  Look at that water, just beautiful.  Lake Hefner really is a gem in this land-locked city/state/area.  A bike trail goes all the way around the lake and I learned via Susan (Miss Biker Extraordinaire’) that the trail is just under 10 miles long.  Hmmmm, I’m just about ready to take on that distance.  One trip around. Susan rides FIVE TRIPS AROUND. 

That evening was a river party on the North Canadian (yes there is water in the river outside of the city, even locals are surprised) … on friend David’s family’s land.  He was having a BBQ for some industry folks and had invited My Friend Jamie, who has business dealings with him from time to time.  Oh, and she was to invite Pam and John, and John needed to wear his shorts and cowboy boots. (Side Note:  Please never give John a dare like that, you know he just might do it …)

Meanwhile, here is baby Amira, who stole the show at said BBQ picnic.  Is this not the sweetest face you have seen in a while?  Jamie got a bit of baby-holding in, practicing for granny duties coming up in a few short months.

Speaking of bikes (above) …. A couple of folks have been following my bike-riding progress over on the Facebook page.  Beverly (also above) and her husband have decided to bring their bikes home from the lake and start riding here in the city.  And Cousins Dave & Donna have done gone and bought some bikes themselves!  So it might be Cousins’ Night Bike Rides soon!!!  :)

Full Moon and the Battle for Total Kitty Domination

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It must be the full moon this week.  Because the Battle has been “ON”.  All three are neutered/spayed cats.  HOWEVER, those boys are still boys and are bound and determined to get the best of Sally.  Here I am, happily at home messing around this week, with things just moseying along, normal and quiet, and then ……… hiss, spit, hiss, SPIT, MOWWWW, WHAP WHAP WHAP, whine, hiss hiss and then a herd of Thunder Paws run through the house at full warp speed.

So, I’ve figured out what it is those boys have been doing.  They are tag teaming her. 

It is Sterling’s job to chase Sally through the house until such time as she is cornered – under the table, or literally in a corner, breathless and unable to escape.

At that point, before she has time to take a breath and get ready for a re-hiss, here comes Lewis, who relieves Sterling from his chase duties.  Lewis strong-arms his way in and with one heavy paw tries to make a swipe at a cowering kitty.  That boy can be a thug.  He is Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York.  He has intent with his boxing.

It is all very unpleasant for Sally, who, as we all know, just minds her own business and wants to be left alone. 

So part of my vacay week at home has been breaking up cat fights.  Literally.

So who is the winner so far in TOTAL KITTY DOMINATION?  I say Sally … because she has yet to be tackled by those two rascal boys, but does have a few little scars on her nose for their effort.  Plus she has recognized that I’ve been defending her honor and has been awfully sweet to me and even let me pick her up. 

__________________________

Other than that:  Progress made in organizing my office room.  Re-locating the cat boxes for more convenience into the office closet (a decision I may live to regret).  Stepped up the bike riding although we took the night off last night (hot/wind) and went to the local pub instead for some fried chicken.

Other than that #2:  Working on a logo.  Have a marketing idea for photo-taking.  This is much harder than expected!!!  But want materials to look professional, even though self-created.

Just some blathering ....

I'm off work this week and what happens? The air-con goes out in the building where I work and they send everyone home. I wonder what this does to my vacay time? Surely it is now only four days off officially and not five? Hmmmmm.

Made a quick trip to Garden Ridge today to pick up a pot for some ivy we bought the other week. Stock is bare. They are selling tables and tables of those bargain books. And tables and tables of cheap sundresses from India. I ask the clerk if they are going out of business (no! horror!) She says they aren't ... just getting ready for halloween. Hmmmm.

Totally forgot that the MJ funeral service was today. Might have watched it but have seen enough of the clips on various news programs that I feel I have watched it all.

Have been mulling it over and have decided that yes, he is gone too soon, but yet ... not as soon and not as tragic as some other deaths. JFK Jr? That was tragic and gone too soon. Princess Diana? Definitely a tragedy. John Lennon? OMG, don't even get me started. Michael J, however, seemed to be the creator of his own demise. It was bothering me that one of my contemporaries has died, but ... the longer this goes on, the less sorry I feel about it. I'm not particularly a great fan and certainly believe something fishy was going on with the young boys (whether he was found innocent or not) ....

However, my family has been touched with a few tragic deaths of ones gone too soon. And I'm not sure we have ever recovered as a family. In fact, I know we have NOT. So, I'm not making light of the fact that MJ has died. I'm just saying .... he lived a pretty full and amazing life but let's move on folks!

Had Sister Carole over for a cookout on Sunday. She is doing good except having some issues in dealing with a few things that are lingering ... like carrying around the wound vac bag and dealing with the ostomy thingie, which is supposed to be reversed at some point. Had her friend Renea and husband Dahl around also, to thank them for all their help. And Kymmie and Larry. My kids :)

Meanwhile, the bike riding is going well ... once in the morning and once in the evening, so am doing about 4 to 8 miles per day altogether, which is excellent considering last month I could do zero laps in the neighborhood. Not sure it is showing, but feel like some changes are starting to happen in the ol' bod ... stronger lungs; legs; now if only the menopause middle would start to disappear, me'd be happy.

Sorry to ramble, just had some things to say.

A Marvelous Night for a Moondance

Its a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance

neath the cover of October (okay, July) skies