Good Monday to you all.

Good Monday to you all.

I am trying to be better about blogging as I have a lot on my mind and I want to share it….

God help you all…

It is the Monday after a long weekend and I am glad to be back at work.

We had a pretty major winter storm move through on Thursday of last week and it dumped about 4 inches of snow here in the metro area. Now those of you who live in areas where you get snow all the time are laughing right now.

4 inches of snow… really?  

Yep really… I was at a conference for work on Thursday and it took me almost 4 hours to drive the 30 miles home and throw in a brief 20 min stop to pick up my boys… so you can see... we don’t handle snow very well here in Oklahoma. My wife was at work on Thursday and it took 3 hours to get home.

Anyway... Aside of the traffic and other headaches that are associated with winter weather in Oklahoma we did get to get out and play with the boys in the snow! This is only their second time to see the white stuff. The first was last Christmas at my Dad’s in Idaho. We took them out and pulled them on their sleds. They didn’t know exactly what to think about the white stuff and kind of became stiff. Oh well, I think as they get older they will get to where they are inseparable from the snow when we get it.

We also loaded the boys up on Saturday and took them to the Oklahoma Train Show at the State Fairgrounds. The boys really enjoyed the trains and of course every train that they saw was Thomas! They are just starting to get into Thomas the Train and haven’t learned the other characters yet so anything that looks like a train is considered to be Thomas to them! It is cute to see them starting to recognize stuff they are reading and to watch the gears turning in their brains. I have a feeling as the boys get older that we will have at least one train set in our house! I think that it is almost guaranteed!

On Sunday we got to go have Turkey dinner at me maw’s house! I married into a family of great cooks and while I have gained some weight I am very appreciative of the great food!

The boys always love going over to the Grandmas’ because they get spoiled and they pretty much have free rein of the house!

Well that was pretty much the weekend.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Be safe and slow down!

Bryan.

Day three of Severe Weather event in Oklahoma

Well today will hopefully be the last day of the multi day severe weather event that has occurred in Oklahoma.

This post will be brief and to the point.

Below is what the National Weather Service office in Norman Oklahoma is thinking regarding timing and coverage.

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service in Norman

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service in Norman

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service in Norman

These are not set in stone and could very well change depending on when and where storms fire.

I will add that you need to be very weather aware today and please have multiple ways to get your warning information. Weather Radios and Local Media are all good ways to receive warning information.

Have a plan and go over it with your family and make sure that they understand it.

Be Prepared, Not Scared.

Be Safe

Bryan

Active Severe Weather period shaping up for Oklahoma

As we head into the weekend one thing is becoming very clear......

We will be entering into an active weather pattern starting Saturday the 18th and going through Monday the 20th. Below are images from the Local National Weather Service office in Norman. They chronicle their latest thinking on how the weekend weather picture will unfold.

Image courtesy NWS Norman

On Saturday the Dry line will be pushing into the state and will be at the western border by late afternoon. There is a strong Capping inversion, warm layer of air that acts as a lid on the atmosphere, that should be in place during the day to limit convective initiation. If it gets warm enough and there is enough lift to erode that cap then storms should fire in the western part of the state and move to the E or NE. As the Weather service indicates with the Red shaded area.... this is the area that will see a tornadic threat if those storms do fire. These storms, if they form, should be into the metro area by late evening.

Image courtesy NWS Norman

 From every source that I am reading and hearing, Sunday appears to be the main day in the state as far as the very real possibility of a severe weather outbreak. All modes of Severe weather will be possible and there is a very real possibility of strong and damaging tornadoes. The red shaded area again indicates the area that has the highest probability for Tornadoes. Time frame for the Metro Area should be around 4-6 pm.

Image courtesy NWS Norman

Monday has the potential to be a sleeper Severe Weather day to me. There are a lot of indications that point to another "outbreak" type event but there are still some uncertainties that would limit a hard and fast determination. I have not seen any of the local media mention outbreak on this day but it will be a day to keep weather aware.

I post all of this information so as not to freak you out. I do this to make you aware of the potential and try to provide you with the tools to keep you and your family and friends aware. I try to update weather as much as possible and also try to provide you as many opinions as possible. Those of you who have lived in the southern plains for any length of time know that weather is a very inexact science. All indications can be there for a major severe weather day and if that "Cap" holds... then you are not going to get anything. 

Some of the sites below are good examples of places to get information: 

Storm Prediction Center 

Norman Forecast office of the National Weather Service

It is also a good idea to have multiple ways of getting warning information. Social Media should not be one of them. I would also not rely on the outdoor siren network. These are meant for outdoor warning only!!! 

I will try to post updates as I can. 

Be Safe and be weather aware. 

Bryan

Life happens.

Well I haven't exactly been a good blogger as of the last year or so... have I.

Well I promise to try and be better..... really I do.

It's not like I don't have a ton of stuff that I could talk about.....

My wife and I have been fostering two cute as heck little boys since January of 2012.

We are in the long, and I mean long, process of trying to adopt them.

My wife is amazing.... this is nothing new I just had to say this in case she reads this post.... hey you gotta let them know in the little ways.

Oh and as of last Friday I am unemployed!

Yes... you read that right. I don't have a job. That is ok though because you see... I will get one real soon.

Right?

Is this thing on.... Hello?

Ok, I might be a little bit apprehensive about that last fact. I have never not had a job. I have been working in some form or another since I was ten years old. If I left a position at one place it was to go to a position at another. The only real exceptions were when I moved to a new city or back home from those places.

Don't get me wrong... I am confident that I will find a new job, but it is still a little bit distressing to know that it could take awhile. I have done the usual things that you are suppose to do like file for unemployment with the State. I have reached out to my vast network of friends, family and colleagues. I have posted my resume on job boards, updated my status on my LinkedIn account and even posted my lack of a job on social media!

So what to do now.

Well my wife has a nice set of honey do's for me to do and I also actively look for new jobs. I have also reached out to the Workforce Oklahoma folks to seek their assistance. I have my faith which tells me that God will provide all I have to do is have faith and do my work...

Everything will be just fine..... I hope.

Be safe everyone

Bryan

May 3 2012 The 13th Anniversary of a horrible Monday in May 1999

Monday, May 3rd 1999 started out like any other spring day in Oklahoma. I went to work that morning and it was cloudy and muggy. The morning news did mention a possibility of the chance for Severe Weather but nothing that was alarming. The day went on and work came to an end. I went home and took a nap and awoke to a warm, muggy spring afternoon that would end up being the powder keg for one of the most destructive days in Oklahoma history.

I remember watching the TV as the first Tornado Warnings popped up down near Lawton. The TV cut ins started becoming more numerous as the storm worked its way up the HE Bailey Turnpike. By the time it got to Chickasha all three major network stations were going wall to wall extolling the benefits of being below ground for this earth churning monster. At one point the venerable Gary England made that Haunting Statement. “If you are not below ground you will not survive”. Chilling words but truthful none the less.

This tornado, a mile and half wide at some points during its life cycle, was stripping tree bark off of trees. It was removing homes from their foundation and turning them into match sticks. It was sucking babies out of the hands of their frantic parents and placing them ever so gently in a thicket of trees… unharmed albeit a little muddy.

It was amazing the path of destruction that this violent symphony of Mother Nature left as it leisurely strolled through southwest Oklahoma City, Moore, Del City and lastly Midwest City. It would be an event that would tax the metro area emergency resources once again as April 19th 1995 had done. Emergency Medical Services, Fire Departments and Police Departments would recall off duty personnel and pull extra equipment out of mothballs to assist in the recovery effort. Once again President Clinton would make a visit to the Sooner state to console and promise the full resources of the Federal Government. Oklahoma would also revive the dormant “Oklahoma Standard” as neighbor would help neighbor. Often requests for assistance would be answered tenfold. These requests would often be met with so much response that it would overwhelm the requesting party.

Monday May 3rd, 1999 was a day that reaffirms my faith that humanity is good and caring. It made me thankful that we have some of the best weather minds in the world located here. It made me happy to call myself an Okie!

We remember all of those who lost their lives and we pray for their families as they remember them on the 13th anniversary of a normal Oklahoma day that went Horribly wrong.

God Bless them and Keep them and God Bless their Families.

Be Safe folks.

Snow totals for last night's Oklahoma Snow event

So as you may or may not know.... IT SNOWED!!!!!

we haven't seen any measurable snow for almost the whole winter and last night it made up for it.... someplace it really made up for it. 5.2 inches in Sayre, out in far western Oklahoma! WOW!!!

(Image courtesy NWS Norman website)

I hope that you all got to go play in the snow today!

Have a great day!

Be safe!

Bryan

American Red Cross of Central and Western Oklahoma: Wilderness and Remote First Aid Class

Here is a class that would be beneficial for all of you outdoors types. It also would benefit Scout Masters or anyone who goes to areas where you are at least an hour away from emergency medical care. Contact the chapter here in OKC for more details. For those of you who live outside of the OKC area you might want to check with your local Red Cross and see if they offer a course like this and sign up!

American Red Cross of Central and Western Oklahoma: Wilderness and Remote First Aid Class: Wilderness and Remote First Aid Class: March 24th and 25th in Tulsa 1-800-REDCROSS or http://www.redcross.org/ to register. Train for ...

How Social Media can improve Public Safety

This is a great article by Mashable about Social Media and Public Safety. It is a really good reak!

How Social Media Can Improve Public Safety

Check it out.

Be safe!

Bryan.

2011... a wild weather year to say the least!

(Image Courtesy of the Norman NWS website)

It seems that a lot of bloggers that I read are doing a year in review and well... I am lucky if I can remember last week let alone last month or the last year. Thank goodness that our friends and fine public servants over at the National Weather Service office in Norman have done a fantastic job of recapping the wild weather year that we have had here in Oklahoma (click to enlarge image).

This has truly been one of the craziest years for weather related phenomena that I have ever seen. From the blizzard in Late January to the insane number of tornadoes that we had. This was one of the deadliest years in the nation for deaths caused by tornadoes.

The big temperature extremes have been very damaging to crops and livelihoods. The weather has tested communities and the nation with 12 disasters that caused a Billion dollars or more in damage. Organizations such as the Red Cross and FEMA have been tested almost to their limits... It truly has been a wild year.

Here is, as Harry Morgan would say on MASH, hoping that this year is a far sight better than the last!

Please resolve this New Year to be more prepared at work and at home for disasters. Also be good to your family and friends and last and most importantly yourself.

God Bless!
Be Safe!

Bryan

Reflections on a journey of Faith and Love

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  - Luke Ch 2; 9-14

On this day before Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of the Christ child, I look back and reflect on the journey of faith and love that has brought me to the point that I am at in my life.

I met my wonderful wife 8 ½ years ago. I was sitting on a bar stool drinking my life away with more than a few 7&7’s on board. She walked up to me and told me “you know my friends and I think that you look like Norm from Cheers”. I acknowledged her with a laugh and a wave and went on to finish my drink. Then a voice inside my head said… “Why don’t you buy them a shot and take it over to them and talk to her”. For once in my life I listened to my inner voice and…well, the rest as they say is history. We went out, dated for a year, and then I asked her to marry me on the top of a parking garage in Bricktown. I will go into that story at another time.

During the time that we dated she got me to attend her church, the Catholic Church, and after we were engaged I decided to join the church. I remember feeling the same awe and nervousness that I would imagine those Sheppard’s felt when the Angel of the Lord came to them. Until then I had been staunchly against church and religion in general. I remember one of the things that I said to my wife when we were dating was “I would either like to be a Buddhist or a Catholic”.  Again that voice in my head told me that I ought to give this church thing a chance. It would allow me to be around my soon to be wife and In Laws and it would allow me to check the church out. Take it for a spin so to speak. One of the reasons that I was going through RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, was so I could go through the full Rite of Christian Marriage. I, most importantly, was doing this for myself but this was another reason.

That year was a magical and stressful year. The classes started in August, I believe, and ended with my Baptism at Easter Vigil. Stephanie and I got married in May of that same year and I was able to do so with the full religious ceremony of the Catholic Church. I felt so honored to be part of a universal church, millions of brothers and sisters who were there to spread the word of God through their lives and deeds. It was as if the Angel of the Lord came down and spoke to me on that night. Maybe that was that inner voice that I finally decided to listen to.

Anyway, I say that to say this. I wish you all the peace and love that God bestows on us. Listen to your inner voice; it just might lead you to great things.  

Peace to you and your family in this holiday season.

God Bless

Be Safe       

Izzy photos

I love my new iPhone 4s. The camera is so much better compared to my old iPhone 3G.

Taken with a iPhone 3G - Edited with Camera + App

Taken with iPhone 4s and edited with the Camera + App

Why I don’t Blog that often….

As I am sitting here trying to decide what to write about on my blog…. I … well I hear crickets… 

I got nothing… nada… zilch….zero.

I could tell you that it is cold and dry and is probably going to stay that way for awhile. We have a few isolated chances for snow flurries throughout the week but nothing that is going to cause major travel problems. This is a far cry from what the weather models (didn’t want you to think that I was talking about Victoria Secret models for crying out loud!) were saying as late as Friday of last week. Just goes to show you that weather forecasting is not as easy as it looks although I still believe that there is a set of dice involved somewhere in the equation.

I could talk about the OSU BCS debacle and how I feel about the country getting to see a rematch of two outstanding SEC teams. Do I think that OSU deserved to be in the BCS championship game? Yes. Do I think that the two best teams in the country are playing each other in said game? Yes. OSU is getting rewarded for their hiccup in Ames, Iowa. Unfortunately they, OSU, needed to run the table to get into the BCS game. They simply don’t have the respect that a SEC powerhouse has. They need to continue this season into another 10 + win season and another and another. Then they will get the attention of the folks that vote. It would have made a great end to a Cinderella season but they are still getting to go to the Fiesta Bowl and play the #4 team in the Nation! Stanford has a Heisman hopeful in Andrew Luck and is a really good team altogether. I look forward to watching them play with the vim and vigor that they did against the instate rivals OU. It should be a great game.

I could talk about politics but I don’t want to bore you, all … well I really don’t know how many of you are out there.

I could post a really cute pic of one of my cats but I will save that for when I really don’t have anything to talk about.

So for not having anything to talk about…. Well I was able to get almost 400 words out of it.

Hopefully I will have a better post tomorrow.

Until then… Be Safe!

Bryan.  

Things that I am thankful for.

Hello out there Blogosphere!

I want to try and post this list every year that I am around and able too. This is a top ten list of sorts although the order of these does not represent the order of importance!

10. Job. -  I am thankful that I have a job of course! In this economy if you don't have a job then times are very tough for you. I pray for those of my friends that don't have a job. I simply can't imagine the apprehension that you all must be going through. Hopefully you know where your next meal is coming from and that you have a roof over your head or a place to sleep. I can't offer much in the way of assistance but I can put you in touch with people who can here in the Oklahoma City area. Reach out to me if you need some contact information.

9. Transportation. - This goes along with having a job... without transportation... well to put it simply I wouldn't be able to maintain a job. In a city whose public transportation system is abysmal to say the least! If you don't have a car or bike or some way to get around then you have to walk and that is really not an option in a city as large as Oklahoma City.

8. Great In-laws. - In a world that is lived out on TV shows like Dr. Phil and Jerry Springer. I am truly blessed to have great in-laws! I always tell my wife that I used up all of my luck when I met her. This includes my wife's parents. Vince and Marilyn are two of the most wonderful people ever put on this earth! Vince is like a second father to me and Marilyn a second mom.

7. Faith. - My faith is what I hope is developing me into a good husband and, hopefully soon, a father. I would not have found my faith had it not been for my wife and her parents. I will owe them for eternity the gift that they have shined my eyes upon.

6. REACT & 5. The American Red Cross. - I include these two together because they have allowed me
to do something I love. I get to help people. Both programs have introduced me to some really great people in this community. People that would literally give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. My work with REACT led me to my work with the Red Cross.

4. Friends. - Where would I be without my friends. My work friends keep me sane on a tough day at work. My volunteer friends have my back during intense pressure and sometimes overwhelming suffering. My friend friends have had my back since high school. One of them has been my best man others have been confidants. One of them is my lover and my wife… one in the same I assure you! All of these friends are people that I laugh with, cry with and share the good and bad with! I wouldn’t be the person I am today without each and every one of them. God bless them all!

3. My Idaho Family. - My Dad and Marian… where do I start. Dad, we have had some issues in our relationship that we are both trying to rebuild and put the bad aside. For that I will be eternally grateful! Our renewed relationship is something that I cherish and look forward to nurturing. Marian, I haven’t gotten to know you as well as I should have. You are an amazing lady. I think about all of the times that you have kept the home fires burning while dad went off to another state and earned his part of the money. You also worked a full time job and raised a daughter that has turned into a stellar young woman. Sara, I just want you to know how proud I am of you and can’t wait to make up for lost time.

2. Mom. - Mom, I don't know how to put into words the important role that you have played in my life. I would not be the person I am today had I not been raised by you. You have been a great friend, mentor and Mom. You have always been fair and exceedingly generous

1. Stephanie. - 7 years ago you came into my life in of all places... Russell’s! It was a whirlwind 2 year romance and has been a wonderful and challenging 5 1/2 years of marriage. You are my best friend, my lover, my confidante, an amazing cook and incredibly talented person. God has blessed me with a true gem and to him I will be forever thankful. I love you so much!

I hope that all of you have had a great Thanksgiving day and that you know your things that you are thankful for. Life is finite. Be sure and tell your family and friends that you love and cherish them each and every day!

Please be safe!

God Bless.

Bryan
　
　

FLASH.... PRESIDENT DEAD

It was 48 years ago yesterday, November 22, 1963, that this news flash came across the UPI news wires. It would be the start of a day filled with sorrow, anger and denial. President John F. Kennedy had been shot by a lone gunman from the sixth floor of the Texas School book depository in Dallas, Texas. To borrow a phrase from President Franklin Roosevelt, “It would be a day that lived in infamy”.

News wires at the time were the way that the burgeoning Television News and its older, more mature big brother, Radio News got their information. This was back in the day before satellite up links and 24 hour News cycles. They didn’t have Computers, Social Media, or CNN to get their news stories from. 

It would be the job of a person to take stories and type them onto punch cards. They didn’t have laptops or IPads back in the day. These stories would then be ready to be transmitted over the “wire”. Then it would be the job of the Wire Editor to decide which stories would go out to the nation. I can’t imagine seeing that story and having to remain professional and transmit that out to the nation. I think that I would have reacted the way the venerable Walter Cronkite did on that fateful day when he teared up on National Television.

The Kennedy assassination and subsequent events were the first truly nationwide story that was broadcast on the national news almost as it happened. I often wonder today what that story would have been like had it happened now.

My first question is… would there have been cameras or press out on the motorcade route with the President? Right now most of the media coverage on the kind of event that President Kennedy was on is handled by a pool of print, TV and radio press.  You might have a set of White House reporters that would be in the press room set up for the event but you would have few if any actual Media traveling in the Motorcade. With the security that is around the President and their motorcade.  It is not real effective to have a whole host of cameras and reporters travel this way. Most news agencies will send cameras and personnel to an event location to report from there.  

Second, how would the news agencies have even handled this? I think that once they got wind of the story through their reporters either on the scene or in the White House. They would have gone “Wall to Wall”, as they call it, with their coverage. It would not be as tough to get a hold of their reporters in Dallas because of cell phones. Back in the day a reporter had to find a land line to report on a story. Then there would also be the satellite trucks and other current technology that would have made getting the story out that much easier.

Then there would be the new media… Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. You would be hard pressed to not notice the delay in the eyewitness reports of people with smart phones or people sitting at their desks in downtown Dallas. The delay that I speak of would be a delay from the time people start reporting it on these sites to the time that news agencies would realize it and start working their sources to verify what they were hearing on Social Media. You would also have the local and national news agencies putting tweets and Facebook posts out to “crowd source” the rumors.

I pray that something like this never happens but this kind of a story will be covered very differently today then the way it was covered in 1963.

Rest in Peace President Kennedy. God bless you and may God continue to bless America

Be safe folks.

Bryan

Rocky

This is Mother & Father In Law's new Cat!

Our kids... Our kitties

A collage of our kitties Izzy & Zoey

Severe Weather chances for today.

Good Morning!

As we wake up this morning I wanted to remind everyone of the possibility of a significant severe weather threat in NW Texas and SW Oklahoma today and tonight. All of the chatter that I am hearing from my friends in the weather business point to the real possibility of seeing a strong tornado or two. The main area of concern is down in the Childress, Abilene, Lawton, Altus area today! There is also a slight possibility of seeing severe weather from Midland, TX to Dallas to Tulsa in the east and Lubbock to Pampa to Wichita Kansas on the west.

(Image Courtesy:NWS Storm Prediction Center Website)

As with all severe weather there are elements of the puzzle that may not fit together thus limiting our chances. As you get up this morning and talk with your family, friends and co-workers. Now is the time to review your severe weather safety plan and know what to do and when to do it. If you don't have a severe weather plan then you can go to the links below and they have lists to help you with that plan.

The American Red Cross - www.redcross.org
Federal Emergency Management Agency - www.ready.gov

Here is also some guidance from the NWS Norman office on how they think the storms are going to play out in Central and Western Oklahoma.

(Image Courtesy: NWS Norman website)

As I mentioned earlier, be weather aware today! Keep abreast of what local media is saying. You can also monitor warnings on your all hazards weather radio too. Now is a good time to make sure that your radio has batteries!

Some severe weather safety tips: National Weather Service severe weather safety tips

Have a great morning and stay safe!

Bryan!