Breaking News

No, there has not been a terrorist attack, political assassination attempt or the death of a rock star....One of my favorite USC players was injured yesterday in a weight lifting accident. He is lucky to be alive and out for the season I would assume.  Yes, I can hear all my Sooner friends rejoicing. Their dislike for my team dates back to the 2005 Orange Bowl and for good reason, but they have their own injured players to keep them occupied with these days.  

In fact, USC's Stafon Johnson has a lot in common now with Oklahoma's wounded quarterback, Sam Bradford.  Aside from being stellar athletes in their chosen sport and all around great guys, they both will be watching their team from the sidelines as they worry about their status for the NFL draft next year.   

That can not be fun.  

I know, I know, it is easy to become obsessed with a high school or college football team and get caught up in that school spirit. But it is completely something else when you have actually had the chance to meet a player or two, exchange a few words and realize that these guys are truly inspirational on many different levels.  

For instance, take this particular USC running back, Stafon Johnson, who is currently in critical condition at a downtown Los Angeles hospital, he is one of those players. This past summer, Stafon took some time out of his day to motivate and encourage a couple hundred young, aspiring football players at a USC football camp. He spoke of persistence, determination and discipline and his words were gobbled up by these kids. When he was finished speaking, instead of bolting out of there like he had better things to do, Stafon stuck around for quite some time apparently not just to take photos with the kids, who coach Carroll had already sent back to drills, but he was chit chatting with their parents -most of whom were hanging around waiting for their chance to talk to the coaches, the players or snap a photo with USC's #2 on the depth chart RB (running back).

Myself included.

I'm not shy.  

And, I really wish Stafon well as he recovers from this life changing accident.  I am hopeful that his same words of persistence, determination and discipline that he shared with the Senator's son this summer, will guide him to a speedy and full recovery.

The Senator's Wife

September

"Do you remember, the 24th day of September..."

That would be a pirated version of the Earth, Wind and Fire song the Senator and I love so much. We l-o-v-e this song because it is so....so...well, reminiscent of our youth?  Maybe that is a stretch, but it sure makes for fun dancing music.  The Senator and I have other reasons to love this song however, in that the title is September!  The month we got hitched!  Who cares if we amend the date a little bit each time we hear it, right?

I love this photo of our wedding for many reasons, but the best is what you don't see in the picture. Aside from the big grin and wide smiles on our glowing face, while we were strolling down the aisle and out of the church the Senator had a little wardrobe mishap.  Yes, the vest he was wearing under his jacket decided it would fly the coop and pop off.  Bing, just like that, and timed its release right at the moment this terrific photo was being taken.  

To make this much more of a dilemma, it would be our FAVORITE photo from the wedding ceremony. A trauma for which the Senator's mother-in-law had never seen the likes.  Trauma, because this happened waaay before the digital age and it was not like our fab photographer, Mr. Dinsmore, would able to select the next one in the series of 500 matching shots for us to choose.  No, this was it.  The only photo and our particular favorite.

Well, the Senator's mother-in-law assured us this problem was quite fixable and had that "fab" photographer prove his "fabness" by asking him to delicately airbrush the very white and shining star of the photo, the strap to the Senator's vest, right out of the picture.  Which is why this is my most favorite pic of them all.  Aside from the fact that I was now the Mrs. Senator and a very, very happy one to boot.

I dare ya to look for the strap.  Airbrushing was an art form in 1994. 

This next photo is the Senators favorite.  I don't know why - other than it says "we are outta here"!

My sweet, sweet cousin caught that bouquet I was so intent on sending in her direction.  Soon after our wedding, she ended up marrying the guy she was dating and now they have four children.  Love that.  I also love this next one....from the honeymoon series.

Paris. Paris. Paris.


Cannes. Cannes. Cannes.  No explanation needed!

And, a little treat just for you Senator, on this very special most wonderful day!

Love, from the Mrs.

1994

Fifteen years ago on this very evening...




I was about to become a Senator's wife. Although, he wasn't yet a Senator.  Not even close. Just a businessman, community volunteer and from the looks of this picture a hunk-a hunk-a burning love man.

And that hair!  Oh that hair. Mine, not his of course!  Whatever was I thinking?  This was 1994 yet I look to be still stuck in 1985.  Does anyone wear bangs these days? Did they back then? 

I have fond memories from the night before our BIG wedding day fifteen years ago.  The Senator's mother hosted a lovely dinner for us, hence the formal attire, and lots of our friends and family gathered to help us celebrate.

I remember being overwhelmed at the kindness they offered in the form of best wishes, words of congratulations and silly, obnoxious toasts.  What is it with the pre-wedding toasts when all of your very dear and closest friends, friends who are like family, feel compelled to let every skeleton out of the closet?  Not sure I ever got that.  Anyway, our friends began appearing several days before our wedding to help us celebrate and it is their friendship and the memories of those last few remaining hours before my life would change forever that linger. 

It's safe to say that the last fifteen years have been one heck of an awesome ride. Thank you Senator!

 

Reminiscing...

Seven years ago today the Senator won his party's nomination for state Senate coming out of a heated six way primary and spirited run-off election.  I really only remember this exact date because we worked like dogs to get him across that finish line, I lost five pounds, and my precious adopted Godson was born.  All on this very day, September 17th back in 2002.  

Isn't it funny what you remember?  People from my parents generation remember where they were when Kennedy was shot or what they were doing when Elvis died.  All of my peers can recall specific details from the morning when the Twin Towers went down.   

Me....  I remember elections.

And, of course this little cutie who was born seven years ago today!



He belongs to my BFF Pioneer Woman. 

I remember the specific moment she called to tell me he was born. I had spent the entire morning driving to all the polling places in the Senator's district checking on the voter turn out. Let me explain.  At your polling place, the voting machines have a number on the front that indicates how many people have cast their ballots.  Most campaigns keep track of how many potential voters there are in that precinct, and how many voted in the last election so this information can be extremely helpful.  Anyway, voter turn out is typically low in run-off elections and we were carefully monitoring our get-out-the-vote efforts.

Actually, I just needed a way to pass the time so "I" was carefully monitoring our get-out-the-vote efforts.  The Senator was on the phone actually "getting out the vote".

But, I will never forget as I was driving from the north part of town out to the west part of town when PW called to tell me they had just birthed a son.  This was a BIG deal, only because they already had two precious baby girls, they lived on a ranch and her rancholicious-hard working overly loaded with testosterone husband REALLY wanted a boy. You know, to skirt child labor laws and such.  Not really...  and I keep telling her that I am officially, unofficially adopting him as my Godson.  

She thinks I'm crazy.  I think he is a heart breaker.

Happy Birthday B-Man!  Come back and see us sometime real soon.  

SW 

Pre-Game Photo-Op

One of these things is not like the other.....

One of those shirts, does not belong....

 

   

Climbing Out...

Great song for a busy week!

Game Day!

Make no mistake about it - this is my favorite time of the year and I'm not just talking about the weather.

I love college football and I L-O-V-E my college football team.

I found this fun little video to help better explain my alma mater's football program to the Senator. He cheers for another great college football team and we have a serious in-house rivalry at stake.  

My plan is to force the Senator to watch the following video:



Although, this one works beautifully when recruiting high school seniors:

And, then I kindly remind him that I do still like Barry Switzer, because if I didn't, why would I take a picture with him at an OU game?  Never mind that I talked to him about USC football the entire time.  

No offense to Bud Wilkinson and Bob Stoops, but Barry Switzer is still 'the King' of college football in my home state.  In fact, during that particular home game he provided play-by-play and color commentary to me, my BFF- the Bankers Wife and everyone in the surrounding area!

Oh, and every time we see 'the King' out and about, the Senator always takes note of the Championship Ring on his left hand.  Nice....

Fight On! and Boomer Sooner!

SW

Home on the Range....

Last weekend we went to the "Range Round-Up" to see my dear friend, Pioneer Woman.  This has become an annual tradition for our two families as we don't get to visit each other all that often...seeing that they live far, far away on a ranch' n all....and PW has agoraphobic tendencies (but that is another story).

Anyway, the Range Round-Up is basically a sporting event for Oklahoma ranches.  Let's call it a friendly competition sponsored by the Cattleman's Association and a venue where these working cowboys can really strut their stuff.  

They sorted cattle....

They rode wild horses..............

Even the kids rode the wild horses, including my adopted Goddaughter (PW's #2 Punk) who managed to dive off the distressed donkey with tremendous grace.  Bless her heart, I could tell she just wanted to break into tears when no one was looking.  I would.

Then there were these two...

The Senator's #1 and PW's Punk #4.

Call 'em brothers from another mother...homies...homedogs....They were coming off that sugar high from the continual infusion of Dr. Pepper and everything was funny. I'm sure it didn't help that the Senator had taken them to Incredible Pizza earlier that day just for fun.   And they were w-i-r-e-d for sound!

They were also inseparable and we're just gonna leave it that way.

SW