Another Day, Another Dollar

My adventure went well last night. I must have looked good as I was hit on by a couple of old Japanese men. While some, or most, straight men might let themselves feel uncomfortable about the situation, I took it as a compliment. I passed a crazy lady who was screaming into a phone and attracting all the wrong kind of attention. She was yelling at the person on the other end of the phone; I do not blame them for leaving her.

For dinner I was attracted to a place that had a prime rib special and cheap drinks. I enjoyed a few drinks before heading back to my room to catch the Thunder.

I am eagerly awaiting our bounce back in Game 6.

Another full day of conference. I again set up lunch plans. We will have to see how this one goes.

Until tomorrow, may your eyelids fight the good fight and stay upright.

Skate

Cannot Stand Still

This will not be a shock to anyone: I have a hard time doing nothing. This is magnified when I am with a group. So when I wasted an hour of what was supposed to be a two hour break waiting for a group that never formed, I was less than pleased. When it became disappointingly obvious that the group I planned to go with was not going together I went to my room for a nap.

Though it has only been two lunches and an evening I cannot waste anymore time. Yesterday day was the first day of the conference and I expected that there might be some difficulties getting together. Today's lunch was giving people the benefit of the doubt and that was squandered. Tonight I will blaze my own path of adventure to one of the various restaurants in the immediate area. I cannot stand still.

Until tomorrow, may you create your own adventure.

Skate

Survived

I somehow managed to stay awake during all of meetings at the conference I am at. It is not so bad at this point. I have noticed that I do not mix all that well with company people. And other than the people I came with I do not know a lot of people. For the people from my past jobs I must not have left a lasting memory as most have passed me by without noticing.



Until tomorrow, may this blog from my phone work.



Skate

Too Awesome?

Yesterday I auditioned for a narrator position for a very important ceremony. I was nominated by one of my higher bosses for this opportunity and went up against another person who had been nominated by someone else. I went last and gave it my all. I thought I did well. I answered the questions after the reading well. I was lauded while I was there. One member on the board was so awestruck at my narration that he had said that he wanted to tape me. Every member loved my style and voice for the position. They were incredibly pleased and wowed.

When it came down to a vote, I lost 4-1.

I did not receive the honor of narrator position for this highly respectable position. The worries of the board members were that I was animated and so good that I would take focus away from the ceremony as it would be on me and that I have experience as a narrator. The same reasons I was nominated in the first place, largely considered to be strengths, were my downfall. I do have a strong presence and I am animated in the sense that I use inflection and emphasis during my narration. I have done many different events in the past. People would ask whenever a need would arise and I would gladly take on the honor. This would have been my first time for this event, but I do have the experience to lean on.

Unfortunately, both those assets must have been more than they were looking for. I was asked to be the back-up, and of course I accepted. I enjoy these types of opportunities and cannot turn them down. I am sure I will have more chances to narrate, I am just not sure when.

Until next time, may your strengths be your strengths.

Skate

A Quick Day

Today should go by quick. I start the morning off prepping for an audition for a narrator position, then head to an awards banquet that will last for ages, then come back to prepare for a narrator gig I have in the afternoon that will close out my day. I do not think that a lot of actual work will be done, but it will go by quickly.

I do hope to get the narrator position I am trying out for today. It will be very high profile and get me back into the groove of being the go-to-guy for narration. A couple of years ago I was that guy that people came to when they wanted a narrator. Then I stepped back to give others the opportunity, and had not taken a gig for some time.

A young lady for my office is up for a quarterly award and the whole office will be there to support her. If my interest was not already invested, I am now her supervisor. I do hope she wins, my other coworker and boss worked hard on her awards package, and I prepped her for board panels that she would meet. She has already won at two levels and this would be icing on the cake.

Until tomorrow, may your day go by smoothly and as fast as you want it to.
Skate

Scattered to the Wind

So far this year I have a friend move to the Chicago area and one move to Japan. Here in a few weeks another friend will be leaving for Germany. While normally not a big deal, as I am used to moving and friends moving. Somehow though, I have managed to become used to having people stay around.

I do wish all of them well. And I am thankful for technology that allows us to stay in touch. Who knows, maybe I will set up trips to see each one individually at some time. I at least expect them back for the wedding next year.

Until tomorrow, keep your friends close.
Skate

168

Shelly D. Bland, 25, of Tuttle

Carrol June "Chip" Fields, 48, Guthrie

Rona Linn Kuehner-Chafey, 35, Oklahoma City

Carrie Ann Lenz, 26, Chotaw

Kenneth Glenn McCullough, 36, Edmond

Cynthia L. Brown, 26, Oklahoma City

Donald Ray Leonard, 50, Edmond

Mickey B. Maroney, 50, Oklahoma City

Linda G. McKinney, 47, Oklahoma City

Kathy Lynn Seidl, 39, Bethel

Alan G. Whicher, 40, Edmond

Ted L. Allen, 48, Norman

Peter R. Avillanoza, 56, Oklahoma City

David Neil Burkett, 47, Oklahoma City

Donald Earl Burns, Sr., 63, Oklahoma City

Kimberly Kay Clark, 39, Oklahoma City

Susan Jane Ferrell, 37, Oklahoma City

Dr. George Michael Howard, 45, Vallejo, Calif.

Antonio "Tony" C. Reyes, 55, Edmond

Lanny Lee David Scroggins, 46, Yukon

Leora Lee Sells, 57, Oklahoma City

Jules A. Valdez, 51, Edmond

David Jack Walker, 54, Edmond

Michael D. Weaver, 54, Edmond

Frances "Fran" Ann Williams, 48, Oklahoma City

Clarence Eugene Wilson, Sr. 49, Oklahoma

Diane E. (Hollingsworth) Althouse, 45, Edmond

Andrea Yvette Blanton, 33, Oklahoma City

Kim R. Cousins, 33, Midwest City

Diana Lynne Day, 38, Oklahoma City

Castine Brooks Hearn Deveroux, 49, Oklahoma City

Judy J. (Froh) Fisher, 45, Oklahoma City

Linda Louise Florence, 43, Oklahoma City

J. Colleen Guiles, 59, Oklahoma City

Thompson Eugene "Gene" Hodges, Jr., 54, Norman

Ann Kreymborg, 57, Oklahoma City

Teresa Lea Taylor Lauderdale, 41, Shawnee

Mary Leasure-Rentie, 39, Bethany

James A. McCarthy II, 53, Edmond

Betsy J. (Beebe) McGonnell, 47, Norman

Patricia Ann Nix, 47, Edmond

Terry Smith Rees, 41, Midwest City

John Thomas Stewart, 51, Oklahoma City

John Karl Van Ess III, 67, Chickasha

Jo Ann Whittenberg, 35, Oklahoma City

Sgt. Benjamin LaRanzo Davis, USMC, 29, Edmond

Capt. Randolph A. Guzman, USMC, 28, Castro Valley, Calif.

Olen Burl Bloomer, 61, Moore

James E. Boles, 50, Oklahoma City

Dr. Margaret L. "Peggy" Clark, 42, Chickasha

Richard "Dick" Cummins, 55, Mustang

Doris "Adele" Higginbottom, 44, Oklahoma City

Carole Sue Khalil, 50, Oklahoma City

Rheta Bender Long, 60, Oklahoma City

Paul Gregory Beatty Broxterman, 42, Edmond

Paul D. Ice, 42, Midwest City

Claude Authur Medearis, S.S.A., 41, Norman

Lucio Aleman, Jr., 33, Oklahoma City

Mark Allen Bolte, 28, Oklahoma City

Michael Carrillo, 44, Oklahoma City

Larry James Jones, 46. Yukon

James K. Martin, 34, Oklahoma City

Ronota Ann Newberry-Woodbridge, 31, Edmond

Jerry Lee Parker, 45, Norman

Michelle A. Reeder, 33, Oklahoma City

Rick L. Tomlin, 46, Piedmont

Johnny Allen Wade, 42, Edmond

John A. Youngblood, 52, Yukon

Sgt. 1st Class Lola Bolden, U.S. Army, 40, Birmingham, Ala.

Karen Gist Carr, 32, Midwest City

Peggy Louise Holland, 37, Oklahoma City

John C. Moss III., 50, Oklahoma City

Victoria (Vickey) L. Sohn, 36, Moore

Dolores (Dee) Stratton, 51, Moore

Kayla Marie Titsworth, 3.50, Lawton

Wanda Lee Watkins, 49, Oklahoma City

Harley Richard Cottingham, 46, Oklahoma City

Peter L. DeMaster, 44, Oklahoma City

Norma "Jean" Johnson, 62, Oklahoma City

Larry L. Turner, 42, Oklahoma City

Robert G. Westberry, 57, Oklahoma City

Woodrow Clifford "Woody" Brady, 41, Oklahoma City

Kimberly Ruth Burgess, 29, Oklahoma City

Kathy A. Finley, 44, Yukon

Jamie (Fialkowski) Genzer, 32, Wellston

Sheila R. Gigger-Driver, 28, Oklahoma City

Linda Coleen Housley, 53, Oklahoma City

Robbin Ann Huff, 37, Bethany

Christi Yolanda Jenkins, 32, Edmond

Alvin J. Justes, 54, Oklahoma City

Valerie Jo Koelsch, 33, Oklahoma City

Kathy Cagle Leinen, 47, Oklahoma City

Claudette (Duke) Meek, 43, Oklahoma City

Frankie Ann Merrell, 23, Oklahoma City

Jill Diane Randolph, 27, Oklahoma City

Claudine Ritter, 48, Oklahoma City

Christy Rosas, 22, Moore

Sonja Lynn Sanders, 27, Moore

Karan Howell Shepherd, 27, Moore

Victoria Jeanette Texter, 37, Oklahoma City

Virginia M. Thompson, 56, El Reno

Tresia Jo "Mathes" Worton, 28, Oklahoma City

Baylee Almon, 1, Oklahoma City

Danielle Nicole Bell, 15 months, Oklahoma City

Zachary Taylor Chavez, 3, Oklahoma City

Dana LeAnne Cooper, 24, Moore

Anthony Christopher Cooper II, 2, Moore

Antonio Ansara Cooper Jr., 6 months, Midwest City

Aaron M. Coverdale, 5.50, Oklahoma City

Elijah S. Coverdale, 2.50, Oklahoma City

Jaci Rae Coyne, 14 months, Moore

Brenda Faye Daniels, 42, Oklahoma City

Taylor Santoi Eaves, 8 months, Midwest City

Tevin D'Aundrae Garrett, 16 months, Midwest City

Kevin "Lee" Gottshall II, 6 months, Norman

Wanda Lee Howell, 34, Spencer

Blake Ryan Kennedy, 1.50, Amber

Dominique Ravae (Johnson)-London, 2, Oklahoma City

Chase Dalton Smith, 3, Oklahoma City

Colton Wade Smith, 2, Oklahoma City

Scott D. Williams, 24, Tuttle

Teresa Antionette Alexander, 33, Oklahoma City

Richard A. Allen, 46, Oklahoma City

Pamela Cleveland Argo, 36, Oklahoma City

Saundra G. (Sandy) Avery, 34, Midwest City

Calvin Battle, 62, Oklahoma City

Peola Battle, 56, Oklahoma City

Oleta C. Biddy, 54, Tuttle

Casandra Kay Booker, 25, Oklahoma City

Carol Louise Bowers, 53, Yukon

Peachlyn Bradley, 3, Oklahoma City

Gabreon D.L. Bruce, 3 months, Oklahoma City

Katherine Louise Cregan, 60, Oklahoma City

Ashley Megan Eckles, 4, Guthrie

Don Fritzler, 64, Oklahoma City

Mary Anne Fritzler, 57, Oklahoma City

Laura Jane Garrison, 61, Oklahoma City

Margaret Betterton Goodson, 54, Oklahoma City

Ethel L. Griffin, 55, Edmond

Cheryl E. Hammon, 44, Oklahoma City

Ronald Vernon Harding, Sr., 55, Oklahoma City

Thomas Lynn Hawthorne, Sr., 52, Choctaw

Dr. Charles E. Hurlburt, 73, Oklahoma City

Jean Nutting Hurlburt, 67, Oklahoma City

Raymond "Lee" Johnson, 59, Oklahoma City

LaKesha Richardson Levy, 21, Midwest City

Aurelia Donna Luster, 43, Guthrie

Robert Lee Luster, Jr., 45, Guthrie

Rev. Gilbert X. Martinez, 35, Oklahoma City

Cartney J. McRaven, 19, Midwest City

Derwin W. Miller, 27, Oklahoma City

Eula Leigh Mitchell, 64, Oklahoma City

Emilio Tapia, 50, Oklahoma City

Charlotte Andrea Lewis Thomas, 43, Oklahoma City

Michael George Thompson, 47, Yukon

LaRue A. Treanor, 55, Guthrie

Luther H. Treanor, 61, Guthrie

Robert N. Walker, Jr., 52, Oklahoma City

Julie Marie Welch, 23, Oklahoma City

W. Stephen Williams, 42, Cashion

Sharon Louise Wood-Chesnut, 47, Oklahoma City

Steven Douglas Curry, 44, Norman

Michael L. Loudenslager, 48, Harrah

Rebecca Needham Anderson, 37, Midwest City

Anita Christine Hightower, 27, Oklahoma City

Kathryn Elizabeth Ridley, 24, Oklahoma City

Robert N. Chipman, 51, Edmond

Trudy Jean Rigney, 31, Midwest City

My family had moved to Japan just months before the Oklahoma City bombing. I was ten years old, asleep when it happened. It was just after midnight there, and it was not until the morning of the 20th that I knew.

Remember them always.

May we never forget,

Skate