Okie News (catching up a bit)

[oregontocal]

I'm enjoying everything here in Oklahoma but the weird weather. Why didn't someone tell me this place is like a swamp sometimes? Thunderstorms come just about every day, along with 91% humidity, like today. All I have to do is look outside and sweat starts dripping from every pore in my body. I love air conditioning! Oh, and then there are the tornado warnings. So far they've been just that--warnings. Saw my first fireflies the other night on a bike ride by t he river.

Been keeping nice and busy, first with furnishing this place from thrift stores, estate sales, and yard sales. Have gotten some pretty decent stuff for very little money. Stocking up on books again, too, of course. I've been volunteering as the volunteer coordinator for A Third Place Community Center in Turley, OK, a few miles north of Tulsa, in the poorest zip code in the Tulsa area. Here's an article written by Rev. Ron Robinson, whom I'm working with:

http://www.spiritoflifepublishing.com/n ... koct08.pdf

I'm also doing lots of work with the UU church here in Bartlesville and will be starting a program of Small Group Ministry there this fall. A few of us are driving to a u-pick blueberry place about 90 miles away Friday - $10/gallon u-pick, $15 they pick. So, we're going to make a day of it.

The RV (and I) are getting excited about driving to Dayton, Ohio in August to visit my brother and his family. Haven't seen them in a number of years because California was just too far away. However, from here it's only about 500 miles. Should be a lot of fun. My RV buddy Steven visited for a few days and we spent lots of time playing dulcimers together. Even played some duets by Lake Copan, entertaining all the campers there. Lots of fun.

I waver back and forth about sticking around here vs. moving back into the RV. The cost of utilities and the weather would be the biggest reasons to do it. This little house is cute, but it was built in 1907 and has no insulation. Pretty damned cold during the winter and hot during the summer. Needless to say, I'm not going to buy it. So, we'll see.

Anyway, just a little catching up. I haven't been able to read about everyone's adventures, but the ones I have read sound like a lot of fun.

[snowball]

Chris
so good to hear from you!! Looks like you are settleing in sorta one thing RV'ing has that living in a stick house doesn't is don't like something (weather, neighbors, ect) you can move on really easy. Don't you have the house for a year? By then you should know what you want to do...and the stuff to refurnish an other house if that is what you want to do. Must be some reason that you felt the strong need to be there.
Have a good one and keep in touch
Sheila

[Paulette]

Chris, good to hear from you. Sounds like you are where you are supposed to be for now. Funny how things work out that way, isnt' it? I'd love to have heard the dulcimer duet!

Keep in touch when you can.

[Cedar518]

Chris,... how nice to catch up with you again. Insulation is a big help for both hot and cold weather. But other than that it sounds like you are enjoying your time there in that cute little house. Just do what you want to do .... that's what life is about.

[Mollysmom]

It was nice to hear from you !
Sounds like you're super busy !!!!! Guess that's a good thing
Thanks for the update.

[soisew]

Hot humid weather with severe storms in the summer is totally normal for Oklahoma! Since summer is only just beginning, well, I guess you'd better get used to it.

This spring/summer season has started out especially wet for most of the country. We've had twice the rain we normally get for our region and stuck in an almost daily downpour or drizzle. Thankfully all the severe stuff has stayed south of us. Our area seldom gets tornados whereas -- you are in the middle of the tornado belt. So, learn to enjoy the climate you have, keep a weather radio on 24/7, and have plans to find a storm shelter fast. Or, get in your RV and leave until fall!

Older houses are indeed a challenge. Mom & Dad's house here on the farm was built about 1900 and has old windows and no insulation. The little hosue they own in town was build in 1914. Thankfully they have added on to 3 sides of the original structure (farm house) so that really helped. If you plan to keep the house I'd consider starting into a program to update the house -- add insulation, update the wiring if its original, replace the windows, & redo the plumbing if its also the original. Don't forget to keep an eye out for termites (have a regular inspection/treatment company service the house - we use Terminix for our rental house in NC). And, another weak point on old houses are the foundations -- be sure it is sound and waterproofed. It pays to have dig down and have the exterior wall sprayed with water proofing. In the long run it will make the house more comfortable, safer, increase the value, save money/energy & allow the house to remain vital and strong for another century! I love old houses and think they are well worth renovating to update all those things I mentioned yet maintain the original design/charm. There is nothing worse than an old house that has been modernized to the point it looks like a new one. There is something to be said for mainitaining our wonderful old architecture/historical buildings!

Stay cool, enjoy learning your new community and learn to love the house even more than you do now!

[carold]

Chris, so good to hear from you and that things are going so well. You seem happy and contented for now and volunteering always lifts ones spirits. Buying "stuff" for the house. Hmmmm, that seems to go with a stick house Enjoy! carold

[oregontocal]

Thank you all for the great wishes. For the record, I'm NOT buying this house. Although the selling price is excellent, there's a reason for that. Too much to do to make it comfortable: new windows, level the floors, insulation, and other things. I just don't feel like doing all that. It's a good place to rent, but, as someone pointed out, my lease is up in December. And the sky's the limit.

[avalen]

ooohhhhh, I remember the humidity as a kid when we visited my great aunt in
Madill, there were floor fans all over the house! Wow, that brought back lots of
memories, catching a BIG snapping turtle in a fishing hole, fighting buzzing
mosquitos in my ears, and my Aunt said not to worry about the ones I could
hear but to worry about the one I didn't hear, the silent attackers,
funny how as a kid our mind goes "huh?" but as an adult it all makes sense.

[kelpie]

Chris,
good to hear from you. If you're in OH at the right time, maybe we could get together. My sister lives in Dayton and I'm about 80 miles north. I'd be happy to drive hafway to meet you for lunch/dinner/whatever.

[oregontocal]

Kellie, that would be fun. Tentatively, I'm planning to be in Ohio (Lewisburg, near Dayton I understand) around the middle of August. I need to begin work at Amazon.com on Aug. 30 so will most likely return home to restock, etc. the week uf August 23/