Tulsa for the weekend

The kids and I took a trip up to Tulsa for the weekend for a birthday party and to visit friends. Turns out it was the best bet for non-bad weather. Heard OKC got tons of rain whereas here in the Tulsa area, things were much less wet. We did get some drizzle on the outdoor birthday party, but nothing disrupting. The girls had a total blast today (the party was of the outdoor water park variety), and I had my share of fun this evening as friends and I played several hours of poker.

Junior high parent orientation

There's nothing more terrifying than your eleven year old daughter going off to junior high. We all remember those things we did and learned in junior high, and I certainly don't want my daughter doing any of THAT. I've been trying to not think much about it, but tonight was ALL about it, as it was parent orientation for the upcoming school year. Hey, wait a sec... this is a bit unfair... the current school year is not even over yet... oh yeah, it would be were it not for snow days... ugh.

We weren't supposed to bring our kids, so Darby stayed home with her mom. She's VERY excited about not being in elementary school anymore, BUT I think I'm going to stunt her excitement a bit when she sees how much homework she already has for the summer. Each of her teachers assigned summer homework tonight, and they gave an overview of their expectation. Holy moly I'm glad I'm not going to THAT school, they are tough and intimidating even to ME.

I know high school will be worse, but this is no dream scenario. Let this be a warning to you horny-but-don't-know-what-to-call-it-yet pre-teen boys out there. Put that thing down, and keep away from the Darby.

Three Shreks you're out?

The third incarnation of Shrek was not bad. I laughed quite often. But there was still something a little wrong about it. Seemed rushed or something. Definitely not as good as the first two, so I probably wouldn't advise them making yet another. I'd still recommend taking the kids (not exactly a cheap thrill, but a thrill nonetheless), but if it's just you and you're on the fence, save your money for Pirates next week. Probably (he said with fingers crossed) a worthier tri-quel.

Fencing progress

For some time, I didn't get many opportunities to go to Shelby's fencing rehearsals, which are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Until just last week, Darby's piano practice was on Tuesdays, so I'd take Darby there, while Shelby went with her mother to fencing. And then on Thursdays the girls go with their mom for a couple days and I usually take care of things I can't do while with the girls.

Since Darby's piano lessons were moved to Mondays recently, I've been able to attend fencing the last couple weeks, and also as the girls' mom was out of town this week, I attended tonight, which was cool because I got to see her test, which I don't get to see very often. She tested on a new skill they recently learned (called "circle six") and passed, giving her a second stripe at her current level.



I've also updated the photo album with a few more recent fencing pics.

The HIGH life

The eighth floor is nice. You'll never hear me complain about it. I love it. But... it isn't the 18th floor. Not that there's anything wrong with it at all. However, when the opportunity comes along to take a gander up at the 18th floor, well, you just have to take one for the team. Despite how you might feel about the 8th floor.

Back when this whole adventure started, the 18th floor balcony was supposed to be accessible to all guests. But somewhere along the way it became a penthouse amenity. Which isn't a terrible thing, I suppose, when imagined from that perspective. Or at least that's what I thought before I got to visit.

And now that I have, well, I'm slightly (no offense eighth floor!) miffed that I'll not get to do so at my own leisure. Unless I befriend the son of the millionaire that owns this place, who happens to live up there. While not impossible (he IS my neighbor ten stories removed afterall), it's not something I expect will occur tomorrow or any time soon. If ever. I am, technically, closer to the ground than to him.

Today was a special occasion, however. It was the official ribbon cutting of this place. So, I left work a little early to partake. And I'm glad I did. In the process of enjoying free, excellent food and spectacular views, I got to meet my remaining 8th floor neighbor, several other neighbors, the aforementioned millionaire building owner, his also aforementioned son that lives on that floor, and, let's not forget, the mayor of Oklahoma City, Mick Cornett.


(More pics in the Picasa Album)

That last part was mostly an accident. It's unlikely I would have had the gall to introduce myself had it not happened the way it did. Basically, I was standing next to the elevator when he got off and started shaking hands. I was the second person in that defacto line of people by mere happenstance. I did introduce myself as I shook his hand, but I guarantee he has already forgotten me.


The kids were given the opportunity to join me at this event, but they thought it sounded boring, so they opted to stay with their after school babysitter. But you should have seen the looks on their faces when they saw the pictures. So after I picked them up and we got back to the apartment, even though the main event was over, I got the manager to take us up to the balcony so they could at least enjoy the view for a moment. And it was quite the nice photo op.



Ah, the "high" life... I could definitely get used to this.

Get your facts straight

(I'm sorry, I know this is a family blog, but sometimes you just have to speak out when there's an injustice. Kids, go to your rooms.)

Okay, Maxim... I know that I don't know much about much, but I do know this... No way on Earth... NO... WAY... does Lindsey Lohan EVER outrank Jessica Alba or Scarlet Johansson on any list of hot people. EVER. So you just take your stinking list and try again. Just remember this rule. You can put her above Sienna Miller or the Olson twins all you want, but don't go getting ridiculous on us. I mean, I know you're running a men's fantasy mag and all, but people are going to stop buying if you're being completely unrealistic. Okay, maybe they'll keep buying in droves, but they won't like it nearly as much.

My head is going to explode with math

That's was Shelby comment today after doing her homework. She says she had 200 division problems, but really it was more like 50. It did take her awhile to finish and she immediately followed with that comment. Silly kid.

I picked the girls up from school because Darby had an orthodontic consultation appointment. The verdict? She definitely needs braces. But not quite yet. The orthodontist doesn't want to start anything until she loses her remaining 4 baby teeth and the permanent teeth come in. In the interim they put in a couple spacers, as they're going to put in some sort of retainer next week so that when her last remaining baby molar comes out, the space won't close, eliminating the room for the permanent tooth to come in. Needless to say, Darby was very relieved to not be getting braces anytime soon.

Sorry, mom

Mom, I know I've upset you and you're not speaking to me and you're refusing to open your gift and you won't take my happy-mothers-day call, but I've left you a voicemail that I hope you won't delete before listening to.

I hope you have a good day.

Sorry I've not been a better son.

I brake for brakes (all day apparently)

Spent 7.5 hours at the car dealership today for maintenance and repairs, including new front brakes. The repair bill came to more than nine hundred bucks, but thanks to the wonders of extended warranties, I'm "only" out a couple hundred. If I had any idea it would take THAT long, though, I would have gotten someone to pick me up instead of letting the day waste away like that.

Ten year award

Ten years ago, Saturday, I started down the road on a journey I had no idea would come this far or go this long. Today I received recognition from my company for ten years of service in the form of a free lunch (actually, everybody got lunch for free), a plaque, and a gift to-be-determined (have to pick from a catalog).

So now the question is, where will I be in ten more years? Where I am now? Not such a terrible prospect. But should I rock the boat at some point? Shake things up? Explore the wild blue career yonder?

I don't know about that. I've just made some sizable changes as it is, so I should probably hang out not change much else for at least a couple years...

But ten years... almost impossible to fathom. Ten years from now my kids will be grown and hopefully in college. I could technically be a grandparent. I'll be... "old". Gives me the shivers to imagine so I'll quit now and instead further reflect on the last ten years.

So much labor I MUST be having a baby

I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the Walmart today getting a baby shower gift. But I had forgotten my print-out and didn't know there was a way to print a new one in the store. I got an item I believed to be on the list, but when I called a co-worker to verify, no answer. Called another co-worker, no answer. Tried two cell phones, nothing.

So I put the item in my basket and went to the front of the store. I waited forever in line, during which time I got a phone call confirming that the item I selected was on the list, and asked the clerk if he could make sure the item was removed from the registry when I purchased it. He didn't know how to do that without the paper, so he called for a manager. We literally waited five minutes and no manager showed up. So I told him nevermind and took my item to customer service instead.

I waited in line again, and once again explained my situation when I got to the front of the line, only to get a blank look from the "service" rep. I don't know how to do that, she says. Maybe someone in jewelery can help you. Of course, that completely baffled me, but I went along with it.

At the jewelery counter I explained once again my issue and the lady says... oh, well you just need to go to the kiosk right over there (it was nearby, in the jewelery section) and print out another list. Ugh. Why didn't anyone else mention that? Could have saved me some line-standing. Of course, maybe I should have just known, but I don't do this gift registry thing much if at all.

So finally I re-entered the check-out lane, and waited forever again as that particular walmart seemed to have a capacity management issue of some sort. And when I finally got to the front of the line, and the cashier tried to remove the item from the registry, she received an error... "invalid registry". Ugh. Two more attempts, same issue. Finally she read the instructions on the top of the registry and was able to get it working, but not without getting me nervous and feeling like I had COMPLETELY wasted my lunch hour.


You'd think I were then done with baby shower strife, eh? But you would be incorrect. Three of my 7 employees are either pregnant or have a pregnant spouse, so this is a joint shower for two of them that are due a couple weeks apart. Next it was off to Target to pick-up another registry item.

As I had learned from my error, I went immediately to where the gift registry kiosks were in Target (much more obvious than at Walmart) and printed a registry. I went to the baby section to get the item I was expected to pick-up (both of these are joint gifts from the team), but couldn't find it. There was a similar item, but not exactly the item requested. Hmmm. So I made another couple phone calls and learned that not only did they not have the item at that Target, but they no longer carried it and so no Target in the country would have it. ARGH! You'd think it would drop off the registry then. But no.

So fast-forward to hours later this evening, when I instead had to go to a Babies R Us, where the same employee also had a registry, so that I could finally, after much wasted time, pick-up the gift that the team had decided upon. So how, exactly did I get stuck with this duty? I haven't had a baby in nine plus years, so what do I know?

Meeting the neighbors

I've met two of the three neighbors on my floor in the last week, one of which has one of the few other kids in the building aside from my own. The boy is right between my girls in age, and so they're all pretty excited. He came over last week to meet the girls and ask if they could play, but the girls were at their mother's. So he came over again today, not long after we got home, to ask the girls if they could go swimming. We hadn't been to the building's indoor, heated, salt-water pool yet, and the girls had been nagging me to go, so how could I refuse this offer?

If you can believe it, the pool was TOO HOT. Mr Brown (my neighbor and, subsequently, part of the Brown's Bakery family, a renowned establishment here in OKC) had to ask them to turn the heat down. Anyway, the girls had a great time, and apparently already have plans to play again tomorrow.


Photo by Jason Bondy

Mysteriously disappearing

We changed Darby's piano lessons from Tuesday to Monday so we wouldn't have to continue traveling to the opposite side of town to take them. Which is a BIG relief.

BTW, you should have SEEN the lightning show last night from my window. Wow. I have got to get me a high-speed camera or something.

Oh, and I tried to get renter's insurance today (can't believe how CHEAP it is... why doesn't EVERYone who rents have it?), but was denied. The agent asked me... sir, did you have a "mysterious disappearance in 2004". Um, no, I had a burglary. Yes, sir, that's what we call it, a mysterious disappearance. Well, then, yes. Well, sir, the claim is still open, and I can't issue you this policy until that is closed.

Grrr. Funny how I was able to get insurance on my mom's house, which I own, back in 2005 without this issue, huh? Now I have to go through the hassle of calling my homeowner's insurance company and wrestling with them on this. Not my idea of fun.



One last thing... as it turns out, I now live in the 14th tallest building in OKC. Thought that was kinda cool.

SM3

What can I say about Spiderman 3?

It was good. But just good. Not great. Downright hokey in parts. Though, as is typical, the effect were nice to watch.

Probably the biggest flaw of the film (not that I'm here to criticize) was its seeming need to have endless conflict. And I do mean endless. In fact, I'm pretty sure there some conflict still brewing as I type. It was hard for me, an adult, to keep track of everything going on, how can we expect the kids to keep up?

Spiderman vs Goblin Jr., Pete vs Harry, Pete vs MJ, Spiderman vs Venom, Pete vs Eddie Brock, Spiderman vs Sandman, Gwen vs MJ, who REALLY killed Uncle Ben this time...

(and I'm certain I've forgotten something)

AAGH... my brain started to hurt halfway through the lengthy movie just trying to keep things straight. I mean, I'm all for long movies for the purpose of character development. But in this case, there was hardly any of that in favor of cramming as much as possible into the film. I'm not sure what compelled that (i.e. feedback from previous films or writer insanity), but since we now know they'll be making three more Spidey flicks, I must beg of them... please, give us quality over quantity next time. You'll probably get my money either way, but you'll stretch its value some if you cut back a little on the plot confusion. Gratuitous bad guys does not a better film make.

First Communion

While it didn't seem as such, given all the run-up and practice, today was Shelby's First Communion at church. Here are a couple of pictures from her big day. I'm a little bit annoyed that I didn't get a full-length picture of her by herself in her dress.

Twenty-four hours later

After a full day of living "in the sky", I must say that it's quite enjoyable. The sunsets for up here... amazing. The girls have had a blast thus far. And I must say that mornings are going to rock in comparison to what we previously endured. Instead of driving 8 miles in heavy traffic to dropped the girls off at school, and then another 12 miles to work, it's just the 12 miles or so. We live very close to their school now, and it literally only took us 3 minutes to get there this morning. And then it's a straight shot on the highway to work, fifteen minutes total travel time. Wow. The greater irony is that, though I was technically fewer "air miles" from work previously, the route I took on the ground was still 11 miles, and so I'm not actually very much further from work now than I was before, perceptually.


So I spent two hours this evening disassembling and moving the girls' bunk beds from their mother's old house to the apartment. Whereas the girls previously shared a room at her house and had their own rooms at my house, they will now share a room at my new apartment while getting their own rooms at their mom's new house.

The problem with the bunk beds? It was installed originally by the furniture store. Who left no instructions. So now I have a hundred pieces of bed on the floor of the kids' room with no idea where to begin assembly. Ugh. This is going to take all week. Fortunately I bought futons, so the girls still have a place to sleep in the interim.

Excellence in progress

(Written on 1 May, but not posted until 4 May due to what can only be described as the "Big Cox Incident", which incidentally has not yet concluded)

For the most part I've never had a smoother move. And rightly so as I'm largely only moving-in, and not (yet) so much moving out. Having lived in my house for ten years, and thus since the age of 23 when I was newly married, poor, and otherwise without means, I possessed pretty much only non-matching hand-me-down furniture and dishes and, well, just about everything. But being a guy, I figured, all this time, so what. I've never been known for my sense of style (because there isn't one), so who cares, right?

Well, the new place is practically a mecca of style, and so while there's no way that I can have a style-transplant performed overnight, I can and must make some sort of effort to not stand out. Notice I didn't say fit in. That would be asking too much. But I figure if I can simply remain unnoticed (with regard to fashionable home decor), then I'll at least get by unridiculed.

So the point is that instead of moving the "old crap" into the new place, I mainly only moved clothing, toiletries, electronics, and the like, and had new furniture delivered. I'm giving myself the month to get situated in the new place, and then the summer to get things thrown away or stored at the old place so that I'll then have six or more months to get out from underneath the house.

The new furniture delivery went pretty smoothly as well, as did the delivery of my refurbed (read: cheap) LCD TV. I've never owned a TV larger than 25 inches my entire life, so don't get on my case about "splurging" on this thing (definitely the most I've spent on any one thing [furniture set not withstanding] during the moving process). I've otherwise made a pretty economical go at this, though things are starting to add up. As such, I'll be without some things for a bit while I get situation. Still need to pick up a desk in my bedroom, a second dresser for the girls' room, some counterstools, maybe some small tables of various sizes. Needless to say it will be some time before this effort has concluded.

I know I've only noted the peachy side of the move thus far, but make no mistake, there were... challenges. The unsmooth list includes, of course, the rain. The fact that moving any amount of stuff up eight floors via a tiny freight elevator (which is ironic in itself) is tedious at the very best. And let's not forget about being stepped-on by the corporate monster (we'll call them "Big Cox" or BC for short) that could care less about it's customers.

Weeks ago I made an online order for digital cable, high speed internet, and a wireless router. I selected the self-install option, and sent a message to customer service noting my order number and advising them that this was a transfer of service. They understood my message and updated the record. I presumed I was done. However, twenty-four hours later, my order was canceled. Since the new place was without cable service previously, the self-install option was not available. A tech HAD to pay me a visit. Fine. So I CALLED BC (something I dislike very much), explained the situation, had them reference the canceled order, and reiterated all of the services I wished to have at the new location. They set an appointment (between 8 and 10 on the 1st of May). Done again.

Today the tech arrived at a timely 8:15, the best performance in that regard I've had to date from a cable guy. He got started right away, and a short time later, I had digital cable and high-speed internet. But... not a wireless gateway.

That, I said to the tech, does not look like a wireless router. He looked at his keyboard. Nope, it's just a cable modem, which is what it says here on my work order. Nothing about a wireless router. Hmmm, curious. He called "the office of Big Cox" only confirm that, sure enough, there was no router anywhere to be found on my order. Even though I had ordered it twice to this point, and had it repeated back to me more than once. Sigh. At this point, had BC cared at all about its customers, they would have reacted as such: Don't worry sir, our mistake... We'll have another tech run by a wireless router later today and you'll be good to go. Since you've had two orders go bad, we'll do our best to make sure we leave you today with a smile on your face.

Instead, I was given an ultimatum. We cannot do partial orders. So either take what we give you, or we take it all back. Ugh. Well, perhaps I should have said fine and then gone and gotten my own wireless cable gateway, or just hooked up the access point and router I already have. But I was peeved at that point, and just wanted my order to be implemented correctly. So I said, perhaps in error, take it all back and do it right. And he did. Bye-bye digital cable and internet. We made ANOTHER appointment for Thursday (after much arguing and yelling), and so here I sit internet free (quite different than "free internet"). While the apartment building does have free wifi in the lobby, most of the time today I've working on something or other upstairs that needed my attention almost continuously, so I've literally had no time to go downstairs to surf, check mail, shop for more furniture, blog, etc. I did try once to use the free wifi, but they couldn't find the WEP password. Bleh. Gotta love that Big Cox.



Anyway, back to the matter at hand... Many have asked throughout the day, "how's the new place?" Well, let me put it like this... it's "excellence in progress". Clearly it's not perfect yet, and there have been issues to be sure. But the more I restore order to this place, the more things come into focus, and the more evident it is that when the effort is finally concluded, it will be quite excellent indeed.

Moving Day

Today begins a new adventure. Or so I hope. There will still be much "crud" to be done over the coming months, but with any luck, after today, hopefully the pleasantness will outweigh the lack thereof. Wish me luck.


P.S. It is raining. And the forecast calls for more of the same ALL DAY. Not exactly the best start, but I remain... cautiously optimistic.