Tulsa, OK

but at least the weather is as miserable as I am. lol

Rain, rain, and more rain. Flash flood warnings everywhere. I’ve been here for 30+ years and I have never seen it this wet, this late in the year. It’s definitely “green” country now.

It looks like the rain and storms are going to be with us awhile longer, at least according to Yahoo Weather, and weather.com.

The local firemen should be happy though. All this rain should help cut down on fires caused by fireworks on the fourth of July.

rain, fireworks, fourth of July, sick, weather

I hate being sick in the summertime. It’s never fun to be sick, but it always seems particularly heinous to be sick when the weather is so beautiful.

It’s even worse to be sick in the summertime when you have kids. To them, there is no acceptable reason to not be out and about during school vacation time.

Hopefully, it will be a short-lived virus, and won’t spread to the rest of the family.

I previously posted on Tulsa’s abundance of farmer’s markets. In addition to those, there are several grocery stores that are very helpful in supporting a more green lifestyle.

AKIN’S Natural Foods Market at 31st and Harvard & at 51st and Memorial (in the Fontana Shopping Center), has been here the longest and is probably the most well-known. The 31st/Harvard store is smaller, but the staff has always been very knowledgeable and friendly. The much larger Fontana location has never let me down when searching for hard to find natural products

Wild Oats Natural Marketplace has been the only full-service natural food store in Tulsa since its grand opening on October 15, 1999. In addition to a wide selection of natural and organic groceries, vitamins, supplements and health and beauty products, most unique features include 48 feet of exotic cheeses from all over the world, Tulsa’s largest selection of bulk foods, and the largest all-natural meat counter in the area. Check out their selection of all your deli favorites, plus a hot entrée bar, grab-n-go pizza and rotisserie chicken, a delicious variety of freshly made sandwiches, sushi and baked goods.

Naturalfarms is not as big as the others, but they did just open a second location on 91st Street recently that offers fine dining on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as a daily lunch menu. A big plus for me is that they are owned/operated by a local family. I was a co-op member for a year and loved it. They are a very nice, hard-working family trying to provide a local source for healthy food that doesn’t cost a fortune. I am partial to Naturalfarms, because I like having a face to attach to where my money goes, Naturalfarms provides that. Located at 420 South Utica and 6560 East 91st Street in Tulsa, with the 91st Street location being the newest, Naturalfarms continues to provide a much appreciated source for healthy, local, and affordable food.

grocery, shopping, health foods, Akin’s, Wild Oats, Naturalfarms

I can’t believe it, Bell’s Amusement Park is really gone. I’m really sad about this, more than I realized I would be. It may not have been a Disneyland® or even a Six Flags® level park, but it was here and I grew up going there.

As a child, Bell’s was a summer reward. I would save my allowance for weeks in anticipation. When I was a teenager, it was a place to hang out with friends when we felt too poor to go to the mall. Adulthood led to company picnics and the opportunity to share Bell’s with my own children.

I will miss Bell’s and wish the family all the best in finding a new location. I just hope it isn’t too far away.

Bell’s Amusement Park, Disney, Six Flags, family, amusement parks, summer

I heard that the Vatican has a few New Rules for us. The Vatican on Tuesday issued “Ten Commandments” for drivers.

A lot of people seem to think this is beneath the Vatican. That there are far more serious problems in today’s world than how badly we drive. But how we drive can be an indicator of how we live the rest of our lives. Odds are good that if you’re a selfish jerk while driving, you’re probably a selfish jerk when you’re off the road as well.

Not that we don’t all have our Jekyll vs. Hyde moments, but for the most part, the majority of us are fairly consistent in our behavior towards others. I’m not saying that we treat everyone identically. That would be silly. Of course, you don’t treat your children the same way you treat your best girl friend, or your husband the same way you treat a coworker. I’m saying that if you are a person who routinely opens doors for others, you’re unlikely to be someone who runs another person off the road to reach your exit first.

It seems to me that if people were just less self-absorbed and inconsiderate, driving conditions might improve. We all spend so much time trying to do far too much. Then we wind up driving while talking on the cell phone, putting on makeup, writing, reading, and a thousand other things that pull our attention away from the road. With no one paying proper attention, bad things are bound to happen.

Just driving the speed limit will earn you dirty looks, honks, and obscene hand gestures. Try driving a few miles per hour under the speed limit. People get downright hostile. I’ve had people pull up beside me, roll down their windows, and start screaming obscenities at me for daring to drive 63 mph in a 65 mph zone. That is crazy to me. What kind of rush are you in, that you can slow down just long enough to throw that kind of verbal filth at someone before careening off down the highway?

I don’t know that these new commandments are the answer, but a few common courtesies wouldn’t be amiss, both on and off the road. Unfortunately, common courtesy seems even less common than common sense.

I remember my parents requiring a “yes, ma’am/ no, sir” response to anything and everything, just because it was polite. Polite people were good people, because you can’t be polite without being nice, and nice people are good. I’m not sure how sound the logic behind their argument was, but I do think there is something to be said for being well-mannered and considerate of others.

Maybe we all just need reminding that nice matters.

Vatican, New Rules, Ten Commandments, problems, driving, drivers, Jekyll, Hyde, behavior, common courtesy, common sense, nice matters

I miss playing disc golf. My husband and I used to take our kids to play about once a week. Then we had a car wreck on April 23, and we haven’t played since. My leg has finally healed enough for us to go play again. Yay!

There are 44 courses here in Oklahoma according to the PDGA - Professional Disc Golf Association. 12 of those courses are in the Tulsa Metro area. 2 of those 12 are at Mohawk Park, close to the Zoo.

The Mohawk courses (Redhawk and Blackhawk) hosted a major tournament soon after they were established back in 2005. Both courses are long and challenging, and probably not a good choice for beginners.

Saturday (June 23) the Tulsa Disc Sports Association is hosting a PDGA tournament at Mclure Park. A full calender of Oklahoma Disc Golf events can be found here.

Tulsa is a good city to live in here in Oklahoma if you like disc golf. Here are Tulsa’s courses:
Blackhawk - 18 DISCatcher holes
Redhawk - 18 DISCatcher holes. (As mentioned above, these are championship courses - long, difficult, and not really recommended for beginners.)
Chandler Park - 18 baskets (My favorite course and one of the easiest for beginners.) 4000 to 5428 feet depending on your choice of tees.
Copper Canyon YMCA - 18 Mach 5 holes (The only local course we haven’t played, since it’s a private, pay-to-play course. It’s only open Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm, and closed completely during the summer.) 4153 to 5428 feet depending on tee choice.
Dovillio - 18 Mach 3 holes (One of the longest, toughest courses, this one is not for beginners.) 6830 feet
Hunter Park - 18 Mach 3 holes (Long course with heavy woods, very challenging, especially since people keep stealing the baskets/holes. And this is in the nice part of town.)
McClure Park - 18 Mach 3 holes (Beautiful park, challenging course with distance, trees, and a creek providing plenty of tough shots. We play this course when the weather has been dry for awhile, letting that creek level drop. No swimming for discs for us.) 5773 to 6040 feet
Reed Park - 9 Mach 5 holes (Located on Tulsa’s westside, this is a nice one for the kids. Plenty of trees keep the short holes interesting without discouraging new players.)
Riverside Park - 18 Mach 2 holes ( I love this course, but the river’s proximity scared the heck out of me the first few times I played here. It’s not hard to lose a disc to the river here, but it is well worth the risk.) 4948 feet
Westport - 9 Mach 3 holes ( Another one on the river, this is a good, short practice course, once you get over the river nerves. It is a little difficult to figure out your first time. You have to walk the entire course to reach the first tee if you’re not a resident of the apartment complex that hosts the course. No drivers are allowed, only putters and mid-range discs.) 1565 feet
Haikey Creek Park - 18 Mach 3 holes ( The only course longer than Dovillio. This is a championship course and can be discouraging for beginners.) 7549 feet
Mack Taylor Park - 9 Mach 2 holes (A short course with lots of trees, the rain turns this one, and Dovillio, into marshes.) 2385 feet.

Now we just need to plan some road trips to check out the rest of Oklahoma’s courses.

disc-golf, PDGA, TDSA, courses, play, Oklahoma, Tulsa, kids, park

We spent Wednesday at some of the thrift stores we missed last week. My Mom and daughter went with me. We made it a girls’ day out, and shopped until our feet were swollen. Ok, two of us had swollen feet, and the little one needed a nap.

We usually start at the Goodwill store at Admiral and Garnett, but we were there last week. So we gave it a miss on this trip. It is one of our faves and the closest to where we live. It’s a nice, clean store if a little on the small side.

Value Thrift at 1112 South Memorial was our first stop today. Another small store, it can be a bit crowded, with a fair bit of furniture by each of the two entrances. One side is almost entirely womens clothing, with mens and childrens on the other side. In between the clothing sections are the cash registers, shoe racks, and shelves of miscellaneous kitchen wares. Books,cds, and housewares are along the back wall.

They have weekly drawings on Saturday, and you don’t even have to be there to win. I found 7 items in just over 30 minutes of shopping and spent less than $14.00 (plus 3 tickets for Saturday’s drawing).

From there we headed to Arby’s for lunch. We just beat the lunch rush and had no trouble getting in and out in under an hour. Not too bad for lunch with a 6 year old.

Then it was off to the Salvation Army store at 2150 South Sheridan. This is one of my favorite thrift stores. It’s huge and the prices are fair. Wednesdays are 1/2 price clothing days, and they have tons of clothes. They’re well organized too. I really like the separate plus-size section in women’s clothing. That is a major time saver.

I think Salvation Army has the best furniture selection as well. Both the store at 71st and Garnett and the one at 21st and Sheridan have large furniture sections. Not very many books or toys, but plenty of collectibles and housewares, though.

In addition to their 1/2 price clothing Wednesdays, they also have daily specials. You can even find a wedding dress for less than $100. That’s pretty hard to beat. We made it out the door with 6 items for just under $7.00.

Next stop was Community Thrift at 6921 East Admiral Blvd. (Admiral and Sheridan, next to Dollar Tree and the bingo place). Another big store like Salvation Army, they carry mostly clothing, with books in the back and misc. stuff on the left side of the store as you enter. Lots of purses and shoes to keep us ladies happy (not that they ever have my size,lol). Their misc. stuff today included a foosball table. Furniture, appliances, and other large items are found there. My only complaint was the clothing prices are a little high and the clothes are not well-sorted. All sizes and prices are jumbled together, separated into mens, womens, boys, and girls, and that’s where the sorting ends.

Goodwill and Salvation Army have the most organized stores. They do have well-developed organizations behind them, and I’m sure that helps. Value Thrift is small, but the people are almost always friendly and helpful. The fact that they help fund our local Family & Chilren’s Services is a big plus for me. Even if they aren’t as big and organized as the Goodwill or Salvation Army stores are, their heart is in the right place and I appreciate that.

thrift stores, girls’ day out, Goodwill, Value Thrift, shopping, clothing, Arby’s, Salvation Army, plus-size, wedding dress, Family & Childrens Services, womens, mens, boys, girls, savings

I was completely obsessed with fashion when I was younger. Of course I was a size 8/10 and could wear pretty much anything.

Then came children and maternity wear. And who doesn’t love pants with a stretchy stomach panel? Don’t forget the tunic tops. Or living in baggy sweats during a winter pregnancy. At least today’s maternity wear is much more attractive.

Even after having the baby and trying to get back in shape, your old clothes just never quite fit right again. I never did lose all the weight I gained. Even if I had, my shape was different. My hips are wider, and after breastfeeding two children for a total of 3 1/2 years, I’ve gone from a 34B/C to a 36G. Tops that fit well have become much more difficult to find.

So you catch yourself sliding into “Mom” wear. Which seems to be anything that fits loose and won’t attract too much attention. Absolutely no skin-baring outfits allowed while you’re a member of the PTA. Not that I want to be baring it all anymore (no bare midriffs here), but I do like sleeveless, v-neck tops.

Many moms rely on their jobs to give them a reason to dress well. Stay-at-home moms don’t have that outside influence to motivate them. If you don’t have a job that gives you a reason to “dress”, then you have to make yourself the reason. How you look does affect how you feel. No matter what shape your body is in, if you look good - you feel good.

Thank you What Not To Wear. Both the American and the British programs have done wonders to show that any body can be dressed well. Short, fat, tall, skinny, and everthing in between - everybody can and should wear the things that make them feel good about themselves.

We all deserve to feel beautiful.

fashion, children, maternity, PTA, stay-at-home moms, jobs, What Not to Wear, American, British

Being a stay-at-home mom sucks sometimes. Money can be a major issue. People have no respect for what you do. They think you sit around on your ass all day watching tv, like Peggy Bundy. NOT

There can be a serious lack of intellectual stimulation, since you spend almost all of your time with children. Adult friends seem to go away. Hey, they have real jobs to do.

You never seem to have money or time to go out. Even other mothers can be condescending to stay-at-home mothers. Like they’re superior because they’re mothers and have outside jobs.

I’d rather have less money and more time with my kids. Sure, I sometimes resent not having money and things. But I just remind myself that money goes away and things can be broken or stolen. Your children are so much more valuable than that.

Things are only as good as what you can do with them. So what if I don’t wear the latest fashions or go out very much. I can share books with my kids. I know that, no matter what happens in this increasingly insane world, the ability to read is a tool that will serve them well wherever the future takes them.

stay-at-home mom, mothers, motherhood, kids, children, books, read, fashion, adults, friends, share, future

I am so bummed. My boy left this morning. He’s off to Ohio for a month to stay with his uncle and family. His first time away from home on his own. At least he’s with family.

He was so happy and excited to be going. So, of course, I start crying. Which just made me feel worse. I didn’t want to make him feel bad about leaving. I just can’t help feeling sad. Hey, twelve years is plenty of time to get attached to anybody. Not that you need a lot of time when it’s your child involved.

His little sister is fine with him leaving. She doesn’t have to share now. Everything is hers. The house, the people, the dogs, and the toys are all hers for a whole month. Woo Hoo.

Ah, the joys of parenthood, and the wonders of sibling rivalry love.

HUG THEM WHILE YOU HAVE THEM

Tulsa, OK, Ohio, family, attachment, parenting, parenthood, sibling, rivalry, love, share

One of the things I love about living here in Tulsa is how green everything is, and how many farmer’s markets there are during the spring, summer, and early fall seasons.

The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture site has these markets listed:

T U E S D AY
Downtown Tulsa Farmers’ Market
10:30 AM – 2 PM
Williams Green at 3rd Street and Boston
Donna Vogelpohl
918-224-5337

W E D N E S D AY
Cherry St. Farmers Market at Brookside
8:00AM – Noon
Ace Hardware parking lot at 41st and Peoria
Leslie Moyer
918-633-8820

Collinsville Farmers’ Market
8:00 – 11:00AM
(beginning June 2nd)
12th and Main Street
Melinda Marsh
918-371-4480

Owasso Farmers’ Market
8:00AM – Noon (beginning May 16th)
YMCA at 8300 Owasso Exprswy., just off Hwy. 169
Annette Riherd
918-694-3490

T H U R S D AY
Pearl Farmers’ Market
4:00 – 8:00PM
Centennial Park at SW
corner of 6th and Peoria
Rita Scott
918-640-5408

S AT U R D AY
Cherry St. Farmers Market
7:00 – 11:00AM
Lincoln Plaza at 15th and Peoria
Kim Smith
918-519-9383

Collinsville Farmers’ Market
8:00 – 11:00 AM
(beginning June 6th)
12th and Main Street
Melinda Marsh
918-371-4480

Jenks Farmers’ Market
7:00AM - Noon
Pedestrian Bridge, between OK Aquarium and Riverwalk
Donna Vogelpohl
918-224-5337

North Tulsa Farmers’ Market
8:30AM – 12:30PM
Newsomes Community Farm,
2620 E. 56th ST North
Demalda Newsome
918-955-8559

Owasso Farmers’ Market
8:00AM – Noon (beginning May 19th)
Rejoice Church parking lot at 106th and Hwy. 169
Annette Riherd
918-694-3490

I also found markets in Sand Springs and Sapulpa:

Sand Springs Main Street Farmer’s Market
420 Plaza Court (Broadway and McKinley)
Sand Springs, OK 74063
Contact: Ruth Ellen Henry
918-246-2509
Seasonal open air market

Sapulpa Main Street Farmer’s Market
101 East Dewey
Sapulpa, OK 74066
Contact: Julie Warden
918-224-5709
Seasonal open air market

In addition to all the Farmer’s Markets, there are numerous fruit stands scattered all over the city and surrounding suburbs. It’s a fruit and vegetable lover’s smorgasbord around here in the summertime. You have to love it, at least I do. Now get out there and shop.

farmer’s market, fruit, vegetable, stand, shop, healthy, Tulsa, Oklahoma, local, harvest, Kerr Center, smorgasbord

I am so frustrated. My brother and his family are in town visiting from Ohio. They love to shop at thrift stores. So, we thought we would take them shopping at some of the many stores we have here. We made it to two.

We started at the Goodwill on Garnett just south of Admiral Blvd. It’s a nice store and we found a few things in no time (2 dresses for my girl, and toys for their boys). I love how they divide clothing by colors. I’ve noticed more local thrift stores doing this recently, but Goodwill started doing it years ago.

After Goodwill, we decided to take Garnett down to 71st and check out the newer (and nicer) Salvation Army store. It is a nice store, and we found several tops we liked right away. And there is where my frustration started.

Half of the things we liked had numbers written on them with markers. Not little numbers in out-of-the-way places either. These are inch high numbers (one inch high x 9 inches long on one blouse) right across the front of the garment, hardly unnoticeable.

We decide to ask about the marks, so I take one to a cashier and ask about these obnoxious markings. She tells me that a certain national, “super” chain marks everything they donate this way. Everything. WTF.

Even if the cashier was right and the marks were removable, I think it’s an hateful practice and totally unnecessary.

I can understand a retailer wanting to prevent someone from buying at the thrift store and then returning to the retailer for a full refund. And, to be fair, this retailer is nice enough to take returns without receipts.

However, they don’t accept clothing returns if the item’s size/care tags have been removed. So why not just mark the tags some way to prevent returns? There is no reason to deface the garment itself.

The marks don’t always come off either. At least half of what we bought had marks, and only half of those came clean. Maybe this seems trivial and even petty, but think about it.

What if you’re shopping at the thrift store, not because you’re an awesome bargain hunter, but because you simply can’t afford to shop anywhere else?

So you have $20 to buy your kids some summer clothes. You buy these marked clothes because they’re cute, the right size, the kids like them, and the store’s staff thinks the marks can be removed. Hey, you’re a mom, you’ve picked up a few laundry tricks here and there, surely you can get a little ink out of a few clothes.

Only to get home and find out none of your tricks work and the marks seem to be made with permanent markers, like a Sharpie. Great.

Do you toss the clothes and have $20 wasted, or do you make the kids wear them and feel “marked” by poverty?

Are poor people the new Jews, to be marked by numbers and symbols on their clothes? That may seem like a rather extreme comparison, but I would never belittle the suffering they (and others) endured at the hands of Nazi fascism. People seem to forget, the nazis started small and worked their way up to tattooing people and shipping them off to die.

I just seem to see more little signs every day that hint at a gradual slide into a new fascism right here at home. That is not why my grandfather fought World War II, so that we could become the enemy. Whether it’s a slow slide or a blind leap into fascism, the end is just as ugly.

thrift store, Goodwill, Salvation Army, bargain, retail, markings, returns, poverty, poor, jews, fascism

Summer means fleas, so we decided it was time to bathe all animals; cats and dogs. We only have two of each, so, it should be no problem right? No. It turns out washing just four small furry animals is an all day process. Not to mention messy and exhausting.

I mentioned maybe writing about the experience for this blog, and my Mom remembered this story she wrote a long time ago (1987). So, I thought I would share “How to Bathe a Cat by Chery Dewbre”.

Why should anyone want to bathe a cat? Well, cats get fleas just like dogs. there are several ways to rid your cat of these pests; however, none are more exciting than to give the flea-infested feline a bath.

There are a few items you will need to perform this particular art; flea soap, four large towels, one cat brush, one hair dryer, bandages, hopsital emergency room number, and one cat- preferably yours, but a neighbor’s cat will do in a pinch.

Once you have the cat in hand, approach the sink or bathtub where the bath is to take place. It is never advisable to bathe the cat outside, as the mischievous feline will run away the first chance he gets and spoil your day of fun. When the cat is in the tub, turn on the water. After you have stopped screaming, peel the cat off the top of your head. Now, take a firm grip around the cat’s body and attempt to place hime under the running water. It is easier to place the cat into a tub of standing water, but this method lacks challenge for the devoted cat bather; the running water method also allows the cat to exercise his teeth and claws, and to show just how strong and agile he really is.

Upon returning from the hospital emergency room, retrieve the cat from under the bed. This feat requires extra long arms, or the aid of an apprentice cat bather. Apprentices are never hard to find as everyone in the family is eager to learn this most rewarding skill. Have your new apprentice hold the cat’s legs and place the cat into the tub of water. Ignore the apprentice’s screams and remember he is just a novice in the art of cat bathing. Now that the cat, you, and your apprentice are all thoroughly wet, apply the soap to the cat and work up a good lather. Next, rinse with running water. Don’t bother to test the water to see if it is too hot or too cold; the cat will let you know if it is not of a suitable temperature.

After returning from your second visit to the hospital emergency room, relocate the cat. He will probably be under the bed again. When you have the cat in hand, throw two or three of the towels under the bed to soak up the water puddled there. Wrap the remaining towel around the cat, and dry off the excess water. Next use the cat brush and brush all knots and lint which he picked up while under the bed out of the cat’s fur. Now it is time to dry the cat.

This step must be performed as quickly as possible so as not to frighten the helpless little cat. Place the hair dryer setting on high, and set the dryer to one side of the cat so he cannot see it. Now take a firm grip on the cat’s collar or the loose skin at the back of the neck - the cat’s neck, not yours. Turn on the hair dryer. It is interesting to watch at this time how one small, timid house cat can transform himself into a raging tiger at the first sound, let alone the touch of, the hair dryer.

After returning from the hospital emergency room again - note: It is normal to know every doctor and nurse by his or her first name by now - relocate the cat. He is most likely completely dry, but check just to be sure. The cat is probably still in a playful mood, but don’t be overly cautious in handling him as your bandages will be sufficient protection from any little nips or scratches.

Congratulations! The cat is now free of fleas. Be sure to call the doctor and thank him for his aide in this most delightful past-time. Don’t forget to congratulate him on his newly acquired Porsche; after all, you paid for it.

The next time your cat has fleas, remember to give him a bath. It is a delightful and relaxing way for you and your cat to spend the day.

While our efforts were not as colorful (no er trips for us) or entertaining, they were completely exhausting. By the time we were finished, I needed a bath as much as the animals had needed one.

cats, bath, emergency room, apprentice, fleas, feline

School is out for summer, and the kids are happy. For all of about 2 days, then they’re bored. The weekly library trip helps to break up the non-stop video games and television watching. Sure, it’s not the healthiest thing for them, but they are entertained, relatively safe and occupied.

However, in an attempt at good parenting, we decided to try family walks. It would be good exercise for all of us , and give us time to talk and become closer as a family. Sounds like a good idea, huh? It was great…in theory. Then reality intervened.

First was the problem with scheduling. Some of us are morning people and some are not. But, after a little moaning and groaning, we decided a short walk through the neighborhood after dinner would be best for most of us. The needs of the many vs the few and all that. Hurdle one cleared.

Then comes the issue of a dress code. Silly mother that I am, I thought practical shoes and comfortable clothes would be an easy, obvious choice. WRONG. The twelve-year-old boy only had to be convinced to wear pants that stayed up on their own. The six-year-old had to be talked out of high heels and her nicest dress. Apparently, she thought we were taking our short walk on a red carpet. By the time I had her out of those, and into shorts and sneakers, I felt like I already had my workout. Of course, the boy had wandered back to the video games and had to be re-unplugged.

Finally, we were all together in proper attire and with plenty of accessories (sunglasses,water,sunscreen,hats,dogs,etc). We walked out the front door and down the driveway. There, we discovered we have no sidewalks. There are no sidewalks on our block nor in our neighborhood. In fact, the entire subdivision, apparently, was planned with no sidewalks. (No parks either, but that is a whole other post.)

What were the builders thinking? That everyone should drive everywhere? I am not driving to take a walk, that is plain crazy. Not to mention wasteful, and with current fuel costs, expensive.

I think it is just one more example of mankind’s failure to think ahead and plan for a future that is more than 2 days ahead of us. Maybe it’s time we started thinking in decades and centuries instead of just days and weeks. Many Native American tribes believe that we should think and plan for the next seven generations. That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

But, in the meantime, we’ll be taking our walks in the streets of our neighborhood and wondering, “Where are all the sidewalks?”.

summer, kids, library, family, walks, parenting, red carpet, workout, neighborhood, sidewalks, native american, seven generations

I love to read. However, being poor tends to limit my ability to buy the books that I love so much. There are the occasional yard sale, flea market, or thrift store finds. Unfortunately, you rarely find new books at any of those places.
That’s one of the nicest things about living inTulsa:Libraries. Libraries everywhere, whether rich or poor, new or old, the type of neighborhood doesn’t matter, there is a library in your area. I love that. A genuine love of reading was the best gift my family ever gave me, and I fully intend to pass that love on to my own children.
The Tulsa City-County Library system is an invaluable resource for parents. With school out for summer and children at home and underfoot 24/7, even the most patient and loving parents can reach the “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH” stage in no time. The library provides us with plenty of activities to enjoy with the kids over the summer break.
With activities such as American Indian Storytelling to remind us of native roots, and Mad Science to encourage exploration, the library manages to educate and entertain. Magicians, singers, dancers, a clown, and even a ventriloquist are just a few of the many wonderful people who share their gifts and time to enable our libraries to be the wonderful resource that they are, providing something for everyone. They even manage to produce their own mini Renaissance Faire.
The books alone are worth the trip for me. The children’s collection is great, and we never fail to find at least a dozen books to take home. Tulsa’s city-county library not only has rich collections of reading material, the staff is always friendly and provides excellent service. My favorite, and most frequently used, is the ability to request a book from a location on the far side of town and have it delivered to and held at the location nearest to me.
I only have one issue with the libraries here, and it’s not even their fault really. But, books disappear here. More specifically, “alternative lifestyle” books tend to vanish from library shelves. A librarian here once told me that certain books just have to be removed from their collection because they can’t keep the copies on the shelves. The books are either just taken or they get checked out and never returned. Books on homosexuality, magick, paganism, or anything outside of the christian mainstream just become too expensive to keep replacing. A minor annoyance, true, but still bothersome.
I always have to wonder if the people removing these books from circulation are just thieves or a particularly nasty brand of censors.
I don’t know whether to be sad or scared.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, library, books, children, activities, reading, parents, resource, American Indian, censor