Effects of Edmond Tornado March 2008

When the lights went out Olivia was beside herself and ran into the pillar between our kitchen and our living room.  I thought I would share with you the effects of the Edmond Tornado March 2008--We don't know if Olivia will ever be the same.

Yes, the impact did change her face structure just a bit but the doctor assures us that she will return to looking like a ten year old in the next couple of days.  

Trust me!

My girls don't trust me anymore. As a father it is my obligation to always care and protect them and now they don't trust me. After last night's tornado (check Gale's blog for full details) my girls have lost all confidence and trust in me. They feel that the pantry closet in the middle of the hallway, in the middle of the house is not sufficiently safe to save them from Oklahoma's tornados. They let me know tonight that a tornado shelter (in a basement) is the only way they will feel safe. I have put their lives in jeopardy and peril long enough and they will not stand for such unsafe living conditions. (it is important to note here that we have only had two close tornado's in 9 years...but then who is counting?)

I tried to reason with them and show them the houses on TV that were struck by the tornado a couple of miles from our house, the roof was gone, but everyone was fine. As long as your in the middle of the house in a small room with no windows you are fine. They still don't believe me. I even told them to remember Dorothy from Kansas. She ran to her bed and was just fine. She even got to meet munchkins. They didn't find that funny. They want a storm shelter in a basement or at least one in the garage. Do I not care for their well-being and safety they ask me?

I actually figure it was my fault. I was the one who grabbed the kids and headed to the neighbors in the middle of the night after I heard the tornado was a mile away. I should have stuck to my guns and stayed in the pantry closet. Now I'm going to be out a couple thousand for a storm shelter for my one moment of not trusting the pantry closet. Live and learn.

And who said Oklahoma wasn't a fun place to live. Such excitement. Who needs a beach or mountains close by when you have the thrill of tornado's. I already realize I'm going to hear about this night for the next 80 years.

Want to see the damage? It is always about the damage! Thanks to Melinda for letting me steal her "damage pictures!"

Chloe's Birthday Advice

Chloe-

Mom wrote the best blog about her advice for you.  As for me I have one piece of advice that I will write and I will share the rest with you during our lunch this month.  My one piece of advice for you is:

STAY AWAY FROM BOY'S UNTIL YOU'RE 18!!!!!!!  I heed you to follow my advice first and then your mothers.

I love you 

Dad 

(P.S.  I will always be able to take out your boyfriend/husband.  Always remember that!)

I Love Grapefruit also!

The early part of this week was not the best.  Last week while we were in Colorado for spring break Grandpa Joe passed away (Wednesday, the 19th of March).  I finally got word on Sunday when we returned home from the trip (My phone screen was destroyed on a chairlift crash with Chloe----I still should have gotten that lift operators name so he could have paid for my new phone--you don't stand in the middle of the chair lift exit and expect us to go around you!)

Anyway, I quickly caught the first plane to Utah so I could attend the funeral.  I had so many thoughts the next few days.  It was great to see family and friends that I haven't seen for years, and it was good to see a grandpa who was so sick the past few month and who wanted to go home actually get to go so peacefully.  But it is sad to watch those who are left behind like Grandma.  She is so funny and so cute.  There is really no other way to describe her.   But the pain of losing a spouse one has been married too for over 60 years is so difficult watch. 

I loved hearing about Grandpa and his years growing up.  I loved seeing the pictures of him when he was a teenager and a young man and then his married years.  I liked getting to know him as a different person than just "my old grandpa".  It made me wonder what my grandchildren will remember about me.  As I looked at all the pictures I couldn't help but want to know him better.   I had to laugh, he loved grapefruit every morning--and I love grapefruit in the morning.   I should have gotten him to tell me more stories about when he was a bomber pilot in WWII and why he loved cars so much.  What it was like to date Grandma and why he didn't go to church for 5 years and then decide to come back.  I guess I realized I not only will miss him, but in some way I also missed not knowing "all" of who Grandpa Joe was.  I love you Grandpa and at an Easter season like this I know that one day I will get to hear all the stories that I didn't get too, because I will get to see you again.Every time I eat grapefruit in the morning I will think of you.  We will all miss you and your sense of humor.  We love you!  

Baskin Robbins $1 Scoop Tuesday!

Tuesday night is Baskin Robbins Dollar Scoop night.  So we load in the car and head to the the new Baskin Robbins store and each grab our favorite scoop.  We sit outside and we let everyone know who is heading in the store that they can get a scoop for a dollar.  We want to make sure we share our great secret.  The girls love to go.  We have been really trying to eat healthy as a family so we decided that one night a week we will go and splurge on a fun treat.  It is a fun way to splurge!

I still wonder if Ava eats as much as she ends up wearing.    

I just want to Hang with you

This month I decided I wanted to take each of the girls out individually to lunch. Just pick them up from school, see where they want to go to lunch and just hang out for an hour or so. I was surprised by the outcome of this little decision. Now, I usually go once a month and eat lunch at school with the Olivia and Elle who are still in Elementary school. But taking each one out made all the difference. I must admit I saw my girls in a whole new light when it was just me and them, all by ourselves without any other siblings, Mom or distractions. We actually got to talk.

I think I learned more about my girls in that one hour than I have in months of living with them. It will now become a norm to do this. I would love to share what I learned but that would be sharing private information. I don't know if the girls had as much fun as I did, but it sure was great to spend some time with each one.

A couple of things I learned from trying this: (Can't you just tell I like lists!)

1. They get to decide where they want to eat. Even if I absolutely hate it I pretend like it is my most favorite restaurant in the world.

2. They can order anything they like--even a dessert.

3. We have to sit somewhere where we can talk and we have to be facing each other.

4. We have to hold hands the whole time we are together.

5. I look in their eyes the whole time they are talking and I say little in response. (This can be quite difficult for me as a man, as listening for an extended period of time is against our nature)

6. I don't lecture. Not one little bit. (Chloe tells me to save it for my students)

7. I do everything in my power to make that hour as special as can be--and I can only spend money on the lunch--so everything else has to be from the heart and brain.

8. I never cancel. Even when I get a call from my work friends to go eat at my favorite sushi restaurant for free.

9. Whatever we talk about is between dad and daughter. Unless Gale uses her native Chinese torture methods to get me to talk. But I'm pretty tough.

10. I tell them I love them about every 10 minutes until they tell me to stop.

11. I make sure they know how much I like their friendship. Yes, I have to be Dad and get them to do their chores, homework and piano but I like them as individuals.

I am going to have to keep this tradition going. It is amazing how Gale is so good at talking with the girls and how easy it is for her. I have to resort to said tactics to talk with my girls!

Home from New York City

Where have the days gone? I haven't posted in nearly two weeks. Things have been crazy and hectic. I sometimes don't know where the times goes. This past week I was in New York City to meet with some network executives about the show. I was able to rub shoulders with some "big wigs" from the children's television world. The head of Disney, Discovery Kids, National Geographic kids, WB kids, PBS, Nickelodeon etc. just to name a few were all there and I was able to meet and talk with them. But that is getting ahead of myself.

I hate fear. It seems like I make choices in my life that constantly put me in the realm of feeling fear. I don't like it and think I have a lesson that I need to learn about fear. I know where fear comes from and the outcome of fear is never a good one so I find myself dealing with this emotion. As I flew out to New York I thought I was going to have a full grand mal seizure complete with a nervous breakdown. I was full of fear. I was going to meet with all these network executives about our show and I couldn't get out of mind the realization that all of the hardwork, the money, the time that went into making the show could all be for naught if the network executives turned down the show. It was the most horrifying feeling. Much like what strangulation would feel like I assume. I was gripped. So I kept on talking myself through it and reminding myself that Gale and I knew this is the path that we are supposed to be on at this moment in our lives and I had to be full of faith and trust...and throw in a little self confidence to boot. (Which for those who know me--self confidence is not something that I usually lack!)

I am always telling the girls that when you fear something, just go and do it, because it will never turn out as bad as you think it is going to. Well, I should listen to my own advice. The week went great. I got so much great feedback about the show, I have some very important meetings with some networks coming up now to discuss the show and how it fits with certain networks, along with a million new contacts and opportunities for our show and its distribution. None of my fears were founded in any truth--just in my insecurities. I guess when you really care about something and really want to do well the thought of failure in this area can be paralyzing. I have to laugh as when I worked for corporate America I did really well, but it wasn't something that I wanted to do well in, so it just didn't mean as much to me.

The other funny realization was as I was sitting in the meetings and discussing children's television with one of the creators of "Hannah Montana" and "High School Musical" she made a comment that she couldn't wait for the day to be over and to go to bed. It was at this moment that I realized she was just working her job. All of these executives were just doing their job like everyone else in the world. I found myself laughing at my fear, and wondering why in the world had I been scared of talking to these people. They were just doing their job, looking for a new great show. That was all I was doing as well...just pitching my new great show. Not the ominous meetings that I thought they would be. As I went to bed that night I had to laugh and wonder to myself how many times I have held myself back because of my fear. I also wondered how I could teach my children to not let fear stand in the way of their accomplishing their goals and dreams.

The only down part of the whole week was missing Gale and the girls and being away during Valentines. What a bummer that was. It was the first Valentines for us to be apart in our 16 years of marriage. Can't let that happen again!

So for a few funny observations from my trip:

1. New York has to be one of my favorite cities in the world. I just like walking around and watching people.

2. New York has the best food in the whole country. I think I could have spent some serious money on somes serious good restaurants. This trip I sure missed the corporate expense account.

3. I'm claustrophobic. After four days in the city I was feeling like I needed to see the sun and the sky before all the towering buildings squished me like a roach. Am I becoming an Oklahoma boy who needs to see the sky from one horizon to the next. I can't even think of a building over 3 stories within 20 miles of our house in Oklahoma! Next thing I know I am going to move to five acres and start raising chickens the way I'm going.

4. I don't like other peoples germs. If you are walking past me and I don't know you, please don't touch me or breathe on me. Unless you are a children's network executive or a movie star.