Category: Reflections Page 1 of 2

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I will start by announcing a small personal victory that was short-lived in celebration due to protocol and Murphy’s Law. As I wrote in the last blog, I was attempting the LST and AIT to enroll in journalism classes at Gaylord College. Well, I passed and was proud because I had to review direct and indirect objects. Unfortunately, simple subjects aren’t as simple as they sound. The victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat, however, as in my delay in passing the test, classes have filled up, and the specific time I need for JMC 2033 is at capacity. This is where my luck, or as some call it, Murphy’s Law, comes into play. I have realized I needed to get it passed and enroll for the Spring semester as soon as possible, but I am not about to be relegated to attending a remedial class for English. A co-worker asked me if I had passed the test yet; most often, my answers were “no, not yet.” However, I followed up the last time he asked with, “this is my future here; you only get two times to take this thing; it’s hardly the DEI training we recently took for Cumulus.” I’ll keep the blog posted as to the progress of enrollment for the Spring. I have emailed two professors with times that will work. Fingers crossed they allow me into their classes for Spring. Seems trivial, but I am accountable to a timeline to graduate and have no time to spare.
It was tough to believe this time two years ago; we were at the start of the Pandemic, my son was soon to be born, and socially, we were all changing. A lot has changed in these two years. My son is celebrating his 2nd birthday in a couple of days, and my family dynamic has morphed significantly since 2019. We are now a family of four, and I am not working in the same capacity I had pre-Pandemic. I am a full-time student and employee to graduate and improve my working situation. While radio has consumed most of my professional career, it is not the end of the line for me. There is something out there that I have yet to realize.
As I sit today and take stock of what I am thankful for, my family is the first thing that comes to mind. My children and wife (even though she doesn’t always seem to think I may be the one). I am thankful for the sacrifices many have made for me and my small imprint on the Earth. Thankful for being able to provide for my family and grateful for humanity.

Cheers, humans. Onward to Christmas.

Overall this weekend has turned out to be good. Check-ins have become a rarity but that is not by design. Whatever that means, I am here now. Adding to the blog is necessary ‘to do’ today. I am currently studying for the LST. Those enrolled (or soon to be enrolled) know what this test is. I plan to retake the test immediately. So the week can start on a positive note. As you read, I hope you feel my contemplation. Maybe that is real motivation, I think, urging me to take advantage of the blank schedule of events for this evening.
Turn the page, and it is Monday. Kind of a weird Monday on campus. Not really as packed as it usually is because of Thanksgiving break. Well, I am reviewing the material for the LST one more time. This test has kept me up at night.
Nevertheless, I know I can pass this thing; it’s that self-doubt I need to squash and get to it. Wish me luck. (picture is from last weekend’s homework session, as the football team lost to West Virginia).

This week, the country voted, stalling what some called a Red Wave. I laugh hysterically at this term Red Wave. It sounds like algae that form on a lake or the ocean. Can we go swimming today, or is the Red Wave too high? I also find humor in the state map that shows the metropolitan areas that voted in favor of ousting Kevin Stitt and the outlying counties, i.e., rural Oklahoma voted in favor of him. The weird ritual in which the process operates is fascinating to watch. I read yesterday that we had a 50.30% voter turnout in Oklahoma. I voted, and yet Tuesday, I felt, why?
Hear me out before making assumptions. I am not an election denier, nor believe in a stolen election theory. However, I don’t think carrying on with pointing the finger at any side gets anything done, either. The U.S., in my opinion, is in a mess politically. I’m not breaking news here or conjuring any new para-political ideology either; just stating it as I see it. Both sides are fraught with error and seem to be in denial about what and who they are. There will be a time when this political system gives way to a legitimate three-party system. Far left, centrist, and far right. In a sense, we have one now; it’s just some voters still cast their votes with the intention that it directly will affect their far extremes to either side. Sadly, the third party is deemed a wasted vote. There will be a day, and I’m calling it when voters have had enough. It may not be in my lifetime, but one day voters will realize they don’t need to hate the player; hate the game.

To those that read, I apologize for the delay in getting with you. It has been a few days since I updated here. With no specific topic for me to post about, I’ll update you on where life stands. I blogged in an earlier post that I wouldn’t write in the style of “dear diary,” but what are you gonna do? I obviously have no life outside of the confines of school and work therefore must keep this updated with something. A quick catch-up.

My son is talking more. He told me he loved me the other morning. I was absolutely floored. I know he is growing and learning every day, but to convey emotion and then tell me while hugging my arm, man. I had a moment. My little sweet pea is growing, too; look at her. My vampire! Funny, she has my teeth and said she didn’t need the plastic teeth. We trick or treated till we dropped. These two had to of pulled in a pound or two of candy. I’m proud of these two; I hope they enjoy life and achieve all their dreams. I love them.

Fall semester 2022 is nearly in the books. Midterms have come and gone. Things are looking good. I should finish this semester with good grades while learning more of my Kiowa language. I am studying to pass the LST (Language Skills Test) at Gaylord College. I attempted and missed passing it by four points. Bummer. I’ll make the second attempt tomorrow or Wednesday. With election day tomorrow, I hope it all turns out OK without incident.

The following is an excerpt from the journal of the Deep South Paranormal Team’s founder Terry Walcott. The DSPT paranormal team investigated the Old Greybriar House in 1997.

It’s been on the list of every paranormal hack from New England to Savannah. Still, the Greybriar House has yet to reveal its deep, dark roots. The dilapidated old house, built in 1840, sits near a family burial plot in Charleston, South Carolina. Nevertheless, it has been on our list of investigating places for several years. We recorded, with our VHS camera, apparitions near the back of the plantation. Groundskeepers had reported seeing full-bodied apparitions of two men carrying what appeared to be a wooden box. This evidence stands as one of the best we have ever captured. We understand that this house was used back in the day as a rum smuggling stop by the notorious Teddy Torrio and his gang. Our team’s goal was to discover who or what is causing these disturbances the current owner Louis Dorion, is terrified of. Louis has told us of the foul stench he often encounters in the parlor room of the residence and the loud footsteps on the porch outside the windows at night.
In addition, our team kept hearing noises from the basement. Sounds of glass bottles clanging together and voices of men talking. The disturbance seems to be prevalent early evening as the sun sets over Charleston Harbor.
“What led you to call professionals to investigate the property,” I asked him. Then, with the most rugged and distressed look, Louis said, “I can handle the noises, footsteps, and smells inside. Also, seeing the two apparitions in the back didn’t scare me at all, man. Until I saw what I saw under that tree in front of the house, near the cemetery, two days ago….it was then I decided I might need some help,” he said.
“It was six-thirty in the evening, and it was dark. As I exited the car, I heard the loudest commotion coming from the wooded area to the east side of the house near the Greybriar family cemetery. He told me he moved in to understand better what had perked his interest. He yelled, “Hey! Anybody there!”. No verbal response. As he moved closer, he noticed the moonlight reflecting off what appeared to be two eyes, close together, like a human. He moved closer to the edge of the plot, and then he told me what was revealed to him as he moved in to get a better look. “Standing under that White Oak tree was a creature that resembled a human but had arms that extended far beyond the reach of an ordinary man. Louis said,” Man, as I looked up, I could see the creature looking right at me. He noticed I was watching him.”
“The creature started running straight at me,” Louis said with tears. I ran back to the Greybriar House, man. I was so scared. This thing had speed, and most of all, it looked like it wanted to hurt me,” Louis said.

I have never really reflected in a document on my computer. I have written in notebooks, not with the laptop or blog, nor with a cohesive idea. I never felt what I had to say would mean much to anyone else; therefore, I never attempted to type the memories out and create a blog. I hope those who read the words I type are sensitive in their responses. I am just hoping that I am doing this right. I have never been one who needed to raise a flag and wave it around for attention. The only thing close would be the radio. Since the creation of social media, yes, I have had a myspace account. I have always said that if folks wanted to know what I thought, they could tune into my radio show. Unfortunately, I am nowhere near garnering the following of others in the industry regionally or nationally. I had a much larger audience when I was on the KATT.

  I have always wondered what it would be like to have and maintain a blog. I guess the question for me was always, am I important enough for people to want to know more about me? The intention of my blog has become a place of reflection and display. I want to utilize this blog page to talk about ideas and feelings. Also, to display some of the work I am putting in here at OU. As I expressed in a blog post earlier in the semester, I am proud to be a student here at OU. I laugh at the conversations about students who may not understand the magnitude of their time here at OU.

  Some may not have grown up with the inundation as some Oklahomans did. I mean, the first song taught to me by my mother was Boomer Sooner. School pride is sky-high. I am proud of the opportunity to attend the school, and I hope that some of the things I write about in the blog entertain or intrigue me. I hope this blog becomes a place of creative output for my current work and all that follows working through my time at the University of Oklahoma. The theme of the website is me. The challenge I have encountered in writing in the blog is how much I share. I don’t want this place to become a dear diary-type thing. I want to post just different ideas or situations I encountered. Sometimes, I may know the person I am writing about will never read this blog, so that I might go into more detail. I don’t know. Again, I have never had a blog. I probably should have created one years ago, which would have made this process a little more routine.