Fall Choir

Darby and Shelby had a choir concert at school tonight. Here's a video of one of Darby's numbers.

Representing at the Office

Being not anywhere near the target market, I am the only hardcore Phillies fan at my office. I know, shocking. But around these parts you tend to find Braves, Cardinals, and Ranger fans for various reasons mostly involving television markets. We actually do have another former Pennsylvanian in the office that likes the Phillies, but doesn't really follow them until, well, about now. There are also a couple Yankee fans, as well as a Red Sox fan, in addition to several "anybody but the Yankees" fans. Given this breakdown, in the preceeding days before the World Series, the battle lines have been drawn. And the Phillies fans -- okay so they're mostly anti-Yankees fans -- struck first. Just before a meeting today, we changed the desktop background on the conference room computer. The Yankee fans were displeased to say the least...

Ghouls and Guitars

Oklahoma City's increasingly popular Ghouls Gone Wild parade was tonight and I was glad we were able to make it. Well, part of it anyway. The parade started at 7pm and we had something else to do at 8pm, but I think we got a pretty good sampling of the event this year. We learned a lot and will be much better prepared to see more of the show from the right location next year.

Being dark out, most of my pictures did not come out well. But here are a few that did or mostly did, along with a decent video clip.













After we left "GGW", we went to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, which has a VERY nice single-screen theater for independent film showings, to see "It Might Get Loud", which was a GREAT film. The timing was particularly nice because less than a week ago I had gone to a U2 concert, and this film featured the band's "The Edge". If you love rock and roll like I do, particularly guitar rock, you should not miss this film. If you're in the OKC area, you can still catch this show tomorrow at the OKC MOA.

My Foliage View

A number of OKC area bloggers have been posting pics of area foliage, so I figure I should take a turn. Only I won't do the close-up neighborhood views most are doing as we probably have enough of that. It helps that I have a slightly elevated perspective, but these aren't actually that great. I may post more later as it gets more apparent at this scale.

Quick Recital

Darby had a piano recital at an area nursing home this afternoon. Due to short notice from the piano teacher, many of her students couldn't make it, so it was a shorter than usual performance (about 35 minutes). But that was good because we had much else to do today.

Fright Festive

We went with some friends to FrightFest at Frontier City. We rode some rides, did a little trick-or-treating, and, of course, went through the haunted house. Here's a pic of us just before we went into the haunted house...

Pre-thunderous

Tonight was the Thunder pre-season game to which I had previously won tickets. Aside from the losing part, it was a fun time, and I like the improvements made to our arena in the off-season. Many of the changes were more subtle, but the most obvious and appreciated change is the scoreboard.






Big improvement, huh?

Why I love baseball

I've been asked the question many, many times. Why do I love baseball. But it's difficult to answer in a concrete way. There's just so much to love about the game, and it all fits together like a puzzle. So any answer I could give should be considered woefully incomplete by virtue of the impossibility to be precise in this regard.

But here are some of the key tenets...

The sacrifice and the truest team sport
My most favorite thing about baseball is the sacrifice. In what other sport can you purposely do something wrong for yourself, but good for the team, and have it not count against you statistically? Baseball is one of the most statistics oriented sports ever devised by man, but you can lay down your statistical reputation for the sake of your team, yet no one -- not even the statistician -- holds it against you. I just don't think there's a better way to instill the value of the team endeavor.

Additionally, very rarely does having the best player in the sport on your team assure any sort of enduring success. I feel baseball is the truest team sport. Who would argue that Albert Pujols is not currently one of if not the best players in baseball? His team? Swept from the first round of the playoffs. We've seen it time and again.

The venues
I just love that each and every baseball venue, while the same in essential dimensions, offers a unique experience up to both the player and the fan. I've been in many football, hockey, and basketball venues, and there simply aren't enough differences (and we're not talking amenities) in the experience to put them on the same level as baseball venues.

The history
I won't say much about this, as it is largely self-evident. Pick up any good baseball book and you'll find an unbelievably rich history from which to draw inspiration. I received this book for my birthday this year, and I have to say it is rather amazing. Even my thirteen year old daughter loves this book.

It's not over 'til it's over
Like Oklahoma weather, everything can change in an instant. And there is no running down the clock, because there is no clock. It's over when it's over. It's done when we're finished playing. And there are no ties (well, except that one time, which was ridiculous). Down to the last strike, of the last out, of the last inning, of the last game in the season and then some, no outcome is certain. I don't know of another sport where in the very last second of the game you can be behind by an insurmountable sum, but where a single act can turn everything around. The ninth-inning comeback is simply unparalleled in sports in my opinion.

There is almost no better example of this than what happened last night.

As Mr. Stark so aptly put it, "The magic is in the moment". And I couldn't agree more.

Welcome to Grownuphood

I have this issue with my new age. Now that I'm 36, there are adults out there that were not born yet when I graduated high school. And I don't like it one bit. In fact, 36 is more of a problem for me than 40, mostly because by 40 I'll be in the home stretch with regard to my children (I'll be two years from an empty nest).

So, I have entered this new phase. One which I call "grownuphood". You have your childhood , which requires no explanation. Then you enter adulthood at 18, but it's not like you magically know how to be an adult. Through your twenties, and even into your early thirties, as you learn how to be an adult, one can often be forgiven for a number of transgressions. Oh, he's still just a kid...

But once you enter your late thirties, you're expected to know better. You're not just an adult anymore... you're a (gasp) GROWNUP. So here I am grownuphood. I'm not ready. Or willing. And I'm not even sure I've earned it. But I am here.


Update
This is supposed to be me making fun of grownuphood. Darby dared me to post it.



This would be the serious version of me at 36.



We went to the Cheesecake Factory for one of my favorite dishes for my birthday dinner.



And my birthday desert... CHEEEEEEEESECAKE!!!

Best Show on Earth?

I feel I must disclaim that U2 is NOT my favorite band. They're among my favorites. And I have many of their albums, including the latest. But I actually did not plan on going to this show initially. And had a friend not picked up some tickets, I'm not sure that I would have. That said, I am SO very glad that I did go after all.

From a raw production/entertainment value perspective, this had to be one of the best shows I have personally ever seen. Ridiculously well put together. Jaw-dropping in nearly all regards. Well intended otherwise. And if you said to me that, of the active tours in the world, U2 360 was presently the best show on Earth, I could certainly see why you would think that. And I'm not sure I'd be able to disagree.

The opening band, though not one I'd listen to on most days, was wisely chosen from a "pump up the crowd" perspective. Aside from a few glaring omissions (Pride, Desire, New Years Day, All I Want is You), the set list was well chosen and executed. Everything was so great, in fact, that I had to tell my oldest daughter, who was attending her first concert, that all of what she had experienced was NOT typical of what she should expect of future shows, lest she be infinitely disappointed in her further concert going exploits.

According to Bono, U2 had last performed in Norman 26 years ago in 1983. While I can't speak on behalf of those lucky ones to have seen them back then, I'd like to believe that if I had been among them, I would have felt that they made it well worth the wait. I can't imagine that anyone left that show feeling terribly disappointed. Unless perhaps Pride was the all time favorite song of a loved one recently departed or some such scenario.

Unfortunately for you, if you were at all like me and did not get off your butt to make this show happen for yourself, you missed out on what would likely be considered a once in a lifetime concert event. And though I'd guess that U2 will keep performing until Bono's larynx falls out, I don't know that they have many shows of this caliber left in them. So there may not be a next time for you I'm sorry to say.

The set was a massive endeavor. Referred to as the "mothership" by Bono. In the very center was the stage, and there was an additional stage area that formed a "ring" around the main stage, with 3 bridges that crossed over to the ring, two of which moved during the show, going OVER the audience making up the "inner ring". Bono talked about this arrangement, saying it was for us, the audience, to get closer to us. He said it was "intimacy on a grand scale". And I'd have to agree. The "360 degree screen" was an amazing centerpiece to the show. Without which I'm certain the show would have suffered. And the lights, wow. They did not fail to amuse.

Obviously, by the pictures below, my seats weren't that intimate, but my daughter had better luck than myself. She went down to Norman earlier in the afternoon with a friend's sister and kids to stand in the general admission line. Sounds like a worse deal than mine, but she was one of the lucky first 1200 folks to get to stand inside the "inner ring" and experience Bono intimately, though fortunately it was the kind of intimately a parent prefers. She texted me during the show... "OMG this is intense" and "This is magnificent". Let me just point out that my teenage daughter used a big word. Voluntarily. So, she really meant it. She was genuinely impressed. Tough to do with kids these days.

And now for the pictures. Due to the quality of my seats, these are mostly about pretty lights. Mostly.

Here is the set before the show. Nice, huh? Certainly big enough.



Here's a zoom of the lucky people in the inner ring. My 13 year old daughter is among them. Her first real concert and she's spoiled already.



I really like this picture, taken during the Black Eyed Peas opening performance, with the lights out and the cell phones on. The mothership analogy fits right in with this snapshot of the U2 fan universe.



My friend Rob, who I've known since college, and I during intermission.



Me, during intermission, apparently wearing the mothership on my head.



Perhaps more amazing than the mothership itself was the screen. It changed shapes and sizes and moved up and down. A very neat, and probably crucial, piece of the experience.



Another view of the screen. Even though I didn't have the intimate Bono experience, I still had a nice view of what was going on up there.



The rest of the pictures are to give you an idea of the different lighting arrangements and the different shapes and positions of the screen.










This video is from intermission. I guess we got bored enough to get a wave going.

And here is the beginning of the show. You're not really supposed to be able to enjoy the show. Just giving you a taste.

First Serving

Darby has been an altar server for four years, but today was Shelby's first day as an altar server at church. I was a little nervous about them serving together, because as siblings they argue at the most inappropriate times. Unfortunately, they HAD to serve together since Darby is a senior server and responsible for Shelby's training. But much to my delight, I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly things went between them up there.

Carving Pumpkins

After the disappointing OU loss, we cheered ourselves up with some pumpkin carving.

Never the conformist, Shelby insisted on carving her pumpkin the old-fashioned way.



While Darby took a shot at a complex stencil.



More carving pics can be found in the album.

Scanning My Insides

This is my new friend, Charlene.



Okay, so it's just a CT scanner, but I figure something so personal that it requires me to take my pants down to get a good look at my insides ought to be named. I'm having some technical difficulties that will not be gone into here. But a few months ago I got an ultrasound, which didn't determine anything, so this time the doc upped the ante with Charlene here. Results are pending.


--
This evening I saw Law Abiding Citizen, which did its job well as a thriller, though doing so with some graphic scenes throughout. I was pleasantly surprised that the film took place in Philadelphia, allowing me to catch some familiar glimpses of home. Considering the gripping nature of the film in general, the ending was a little flat, but I'm not sure I could recommend a better approach. For you ladies that are Gerard Butler (or G-Butts as Jimmy Fallon would say) fans and maybe on the fence about this movie, there is a "butt shot" of G-Butts early in movie. Personally, I could have done without that.

More Tacos and Cuppies

Seems like only a couple weeks ago that I last had back-to-back tacos and cuppies. I sense an unusual but yummy trend here.

Tonight I attended an informal tweetup at the Iguana Grill and met a number of new people. The food was very tasty, and Darby absolutely LOVED the salsa. Be forewarned, however, that it is not what I'd call a "traditional" Mexican restaurant, so don't go there expecting that so much as wanting to trying something a little different. If you're open to that, you'll love it.

I have to also say that I'm a bit particular about my chips. I'll eat about anything, but I only LOVE the chips at fewer than a handful of establishments. Well, I think I might have to add the Iguana chips to my list. And not only are they quite tasty, but they give you a very large bowl, so when you have several folks at the table you don't find yourself low on chips after just a few trips to the bowl.

I'd been wanting to visit the Iguana for some time (I pass it nearly every day), but it always seems very packed, particularly on "Taco Tuesday". Today was no exception. We were there for something like ninety minutes and I swear there were people waiting for at least sixty of those minutes for seats. Fortunately there is ample parking in the vicinity.



Right next door to the Iguana is Sara Sara Cupcakes, another tasty local establishment, which we patronized.



While I was very pleased with SSC, in terms of cupcake varieties (though I didn't make a particularly creative choice -- strawberry -- due to a craving), yumminess, and atmosphere, I'd have to say that the previously visited Cuppies and Joe edges out Sara Sara in terms of "coziness" and entertainment value. If you're just jonesing for some cuppies and don't plan on hanging out, by all means head over to SSC. If you plan on taking in a book or some music with your snack, C&J is it.

First Date

Darby went on her first parentally sanctioned "date" today. We're just talking three hours of shopping at the mall, so very tame. Things seem to have gone well. And, of course, I was "around", as Shelby and I also shopped, but stayed away from Darby and Mike.

I spoke with his mother pretty extensively before hand. He seems to be a good kid and seems to come from a good family. So, while I'm still a cautious dad (with access to firearms), I'm generally pleased thus far, as it could definitely be much worse.

Plugging the Ex-Wife: Winston's Nom Noms

I know what you're thinking, but plugging the ex-wife's business is the least I could do considering the awesome tickets to Robin Williams she gave me yesterday.

So, if you have dogs and feel so inclined as to feed them a healthier kind of snack, check out Winston's Nom Noms.

Robbing Williams

When I woke up this morning, attending the Robin Williams show tonight was not something I figured on doing. But an illness of the ex-wife's husband later and there I was. Don't ask. But I was appreciative and it was a blast! What a steal compared to what I had planned otherwise. And the seats were AWESOME! About twenty feet from the stage...



My face and abdomen hurt, and I was physically exhausted afterward because I laughed so much. Highly recommended, but mature audiences only!


(no show photos thanks to the camera gestapo)

Off She Goes

Shelby is heading off to her first overnight trip, a science camp a couple hours from home with her 6th grade class. It's supposed to be rainy in OKC all week. Hopefully, down South, the weather will be more enjoyable and she won't have to break out the rain coat.

iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod... Shelby?

Shelby and her mom worked on her Halloween costume tonight. I think it turned out great!











Keep an eye on the album for updates as more photos are taken.