Frozen Tundra Thursday

The much anticipated snow storm for the Northern half of Oklahoma had to be checked out first hand... so "they" sent me with 3 contracts to Enid and Clinton. While waiting for the Doctor, I sneaked down for some great pizza - thin crust, of course.
From the alley behind a supermarket to a walk-in medical clinic to the happy little casa out West, I continue to meet interesting Oklahomans. Oh, when I got back... I had to go back, back to Enid, again. This time the darkness partnered with the icy roads of I-35. I found Chisholm H.S. and the doc's hidden villa. After 430 miles, I'm so happy to be home with my sweetheart. Did I mention our electricity was off about sunrise? Or that Dan called from somewhere between Memphis and Omaha?

Round 2 - out of the South

Thelma always said a Southern wind felt colder than one from the North. And they were wicked across the Turner Turnpike lanes. I made a run to Jenks, America; a nice fireman gave me great directions. Assignments for tomorrow may be more punishment than reward: Waukomus and Clinton are expecting 2 - 5" of blowing snow.

Well today I did get back in time for us to go to ACS; we shopped at Big Lots and dined at Panchos. Regina has to be one of the most loved waitresses in the region. I know our family has - for over 20 years! Jeannette threw her a curve and changed her order. I still love those cheese enchiladas.

Good news at church tonight: Dave is coming home tomorrow! 10 teens in class.

Sirius satellite radio 128 rocks - only 16 days until the Daytona 500... but that's another blog.

Wind, Fire, Kum By Ya

Winds to 60 mph made it dificult to open car doors; grass fires all over the region headlined the Tuesday news. One shut down the I-35 fork at Denton as Joe, Thom,
and I started back from the Adesa Auto Auction in Mesquite with three
Honda Accords. Thanks to local radiowhile fueling, we avoided the
stalemate by taking 75 to Sherman and 82 to Gainesville.

Loretta was relieved that Dave was doing much better after his 12? hour surgery Monday. Mother was thrilled to talk to Velma by phone. Jeannette is ministering to Gloria and her daughters next door; I am married to a great listener and a wonderful cook. I came home in a little gold Cobalt after a finance run over in Ray Buchanan's old 'hood. It's a long day when you start at 4:50. g

Not a Super Sunday?

There were no football games... no races at superspeedways. But this was the Lord's Day just the same. The teens started the Gospel of Luke; Paul had another powerful sermon. Larry survived the sniffles. My lesson tonight was on the Blessings of the Kingdom (a.k.a. a box of chocolates).
This had to be a first... a pot luck where I passed on everything; my tummy was still suffering from the enchilada buffet that Brent & I enjoyed. It was great to see the youth group sitting together at the fellowship. We are all praying for Dave, Coy, and Velma. Hope Jeannette is better tomorrow.
From Joan of Arcadia to The Russell Girl, that actress (and The Hallmark Hall of Fame) still makes you think about saving challenged relationships.

Upside-down Friday

It started early as I had a chance to help a close friend; he needed a ride to the Diagnostic Center at OU Presbyterian. On the way home he introduced me to Starbucks.
After some tasty vegetable soup at home, I worked on the teen room at the church building. Toyota called for me to get contracts signed in Boley. Prague is proud of its native son - Jim Thorpe. Looks like Prague and Meeker are supportive of their schools! It is still a sight to behold when I can top a hill and see for 15 - 20 miles of rolling Oklahoma landscape in three different directions.
The personable couple I went to meet live in a beautiful home overlooking a 41 acre private lake. It's a small world: I went to H.S. with his cousins.
Driving after dark didn't finish my day. I was able to enjoy Monk and Psych with Jeannette. I'll rewind the tape of Friday Night Lights later.

Early Bird gets the Belgian Waffle

Yes, I finally did set the alarm early enough to make it to the Area Preachers Breakfast at Denny's... I've missed it for about 6 weeks (lazy and / or driving). I worked at the church building, finally got air in the front tires, and carefully washed the van (it was 27 degrees and cement was icy).

I took my sweetheart to ACS to work as a volunteer coordinator this afternoon. I then surfed at IHOP, reviewing the extensive websites of Acappella Ministries. Sure brought back some memories of taking the kids to see Keith and hosting AVB at Camp Rock Creek.

I delivered a car title to a customer at the Oklahoma Air Guard gate at the airport. We ate at Wendy's, but the wrestling match at SE was over too early to see Brent go against last year's state champion.

Aunt Velma is back in the hospital. Mother also reported on Uncle Roy and Ellen's Bobby in Lawton.

Back to the old days

Back before dtrade and finance runner, I would go work at the office (a.k.a. South Walker). No calls for this Wed. so I worked on my sermon this morning. After lunch I called to wish Mother Happy Birthday. I fell asleep at the computer so I guess I really needed a long nap.

Teen Class was good, a nice turnout, singing, designing new notebook covers, and a lesson. We updated the phone list since so many kids have their own cell phones now. Myrtle, Loretta, and Dave were added to Neta's name on the prayer list.

I tried a travel blog but it isn't as easy yet. http://images.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/dtrade/1/1199468640/tpod.html

Artic Blast, Twofer Tuesday

17 degrees, you better be bundled up to go out after the newspaper. I traded a title for a $20,000 draft from the Saint Anthony Credit Union before rushing back to Bob Howard. The only other task was from Toyota Finance to meet a couple tonight at 6:30 over in Warr Acres. After lunch I worked at my office at the church building. Tonight was a Tuesday Twofer @ Sonic. J's been busy refinishing all the hardware (pulls & knobs).

Cute name for a business: Floral & Hardy. We still get a chuckle out of Tahlequah's own main street eatery: Sam & Ella's. Our nephew Ryan used to sign seating charts for subtitutes: Just N. Credible. Lot's of unique car tags but I forget them too quickly... maybe you can share some of yours.

New: I added Christmas Pixs (see older posts)

til we talk again, g

Movie Monday

After a quiet day at home, Sudoku with one star for me, I ran errands to get birtday cards in the mail to Arizona. I started working on the slides for my next sermon; Family Night is next Sunday. I plan to speak on the Blessings of the Kingdom.

Jeannette made some more delicious baked potato soup and cornbread. I ran to rent a movie and started a log in the fireplace. We settled in to enjoy Bridge to Terabithia. What a great message about tolerance, friendship, and imagination for middle school kids struggling to make sense of those difficult years.

Day Seven

This has to be a first. Since I started driving for Bob Howard in July, this is the first week I have worked 6 straight days. After meeting a super nice older couple in Tuttle (Proud home of Jason White), I had a nice visit with Stacie - on-air personality with the Citadel's BOB-FM 96.9 - during a live remote from the Auto Mall. Next I was assigned a finance run to Enid. This was my 3rd trip to Enid this week; now I have traveled all three N-S highways (74, 81, & I-35).

Any time you're in Kingfisher, you ought to visit the KFC/Taco Bell. It is proudly operated by the 3rd generation of the Snider Family. Their buffet is quite the bargain. This was my first time to drive a new Impala; nice ride. I caught the OU / Tech men's game on radio on the way back. Taylor Griffin really stepped up in the second half. Tonight we enjoyed "The Good Witch" on satellite. Saturday nights are a good time to prepare for the Lord's Day. gary

Off day?

It's Friday morning and no calls, nothing scheduled. The lady of house is going back to ACS to do more volunteer work in the Reach For Recovery program. I'm excited to get a call about 3 of us drivers flying to Phoenix Monday to bring back 3 Chevys. Before we booked our flight the word came down that the deal had fallen thru. One of these days I get to fly.

In my errands, I stopped by Office Depot to get supplies and a large wall calender for the church office. I bought takeout from Golden Corral which is usually enough for 2 meals, but we never got to eat together. She worked later than she thought she would and I got called in to work. Since it was right at rush hour, I avoided the construction on the Bdwy Extention by taking I35 around to Eastern. The 2 jobs turned into 3 . . . tonight I drove to Gutherie and back to the Southside to get power-of-attny papers signed. Tomorrow I'll go to Tuttle before turning in the Nitro and finance papers.

It is freezing tonight, the Blazers are playing at the Ford but they weren't on Cox. Can you believe the weather in Green Bay for Sunday night's game? "A high 0f -1" Better close, g

Typical Thursday...

Maybe not... I kept my sleep apnia mask on all night. I dressed in layers for the 20 degree greeting outside. I drove to Duncan in the nice gold G6 that I've used the last 4 trips.... it has to be retired now - getting too close to too many miles for a new '07. So now I've been to Haliburton. Dave was in Austin as I started back. Nothing new when I got back to Bob Howard so I stopped by Saturn to visit with a HS buddy; it was good to see John G again. We had worked together on the 40th Class Reunion.



This is Jeannette's day to volunteer at ACS... so it was spooky quiet when I got home. Mother is out in Tucson with John and Rachel. I told her she's missing all the winter weather. It was a chuckle to hear from Randy (in Arkansas) last night. Write again.

gary

Wednesday

After figuring some billing work for yesterday's trek, I went to the Auto Mall to trade the paperwork for a new assignment for Special Finance. By going to Enid, I had to turn down a Toyota request to go to Ardmore.

Proud Grandma, Jeannette told me Channel 4 was running Alysa's commercials again. She saw four of them in the noon newscast.

A day of drizzle and fog was in store as I made my 2nd trip to Enid this week. After buffet at Pizza Hut, I got the papers signed. Well, that's where they said to meet the customer, what was I to do? The return was long and wet.

I stayed off the expressways during rush hour because of the wrecks. Jeannette had Swedish meatballs ready. Bible Class tonight was refreshing; I love my youth group.

Crazy Marathon Tuesday

I got up at 5 and met Thom at Toyota at 6 to drive to Arlington. His "chase car" was a Camry with a beautiful gun metal sparkly finish. I brought back a big, black Sequoia stickered at $45,000. Jeannette was glad to have her car fixed and ran errands before lunch.

As soon as I got back from Texas, I prepared for a double finance run for Chevy. I headed NW in a G6 Pontiac and have a late, late lunch in Kingfisher. I got the first contract signed in Woodward at an oil field business West of the city. By 6:30, I was back on the road to Guymon in the Panhandle. Driving at night you can see many communities from a distance. I found the 2nd customer in an RV park and headed back with the completed papers by 9. The Artic front arrived up there with temps down to near freezing. It was a long quiet drive... for much of the Panhandle I was without cell phone service and couldn't check in with J. Coming back I dropped down South from Watonga to catch I40 beyond El Reno. I made it in about 1 am; thankful for a safe day after 900 miles behind the wheel. It sure was great to hug my bride and be safe at home. g

New week - busy Monday!

Jeannette's lil white chevy went to the shop this morning for wheel cylinder repair. Paul ("our preacher") brought me back home to get the silver van. I reported to work at Bob Howard Auto Mall. I had a finance run to Stillwater. I fueled a little black PTCruiser and headed North. After meeting the customer during her lunch time, I got back on the road for Enid. This was loose end from Special Finance that didn't get clearance last week. Sort of "killing 2 birds"

... well I barely made it home to take Jeannette to Whiz Kids [a great after school reading tutoring program our congregation hosts]. This is her 2nd year to tutor and my first as Club Time Bible Storyteller. We took 2 students home, ate at Captain D's / A & W, and picked up her car.

I better get this finished: I have a trip to Arlington, TX at 6 a.m.!!!
Yes, I do enjoy being a dealer trade driver. gary