Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 09, 2009
Raging winds, fire dangers
Escaping! Evacuating...all the same when you have this rushing your way.
Firefighters advise residents on course of action.
Oklahoma scenes, Central High area, northwest of Marlow.
The wind is raging here in southern Oklahoma right now. And the fire danger is high. Reminds me of 2006. Today fires shut down highway 7 east of Velma. Very reminiscent of three years ago.
Here's some old shots. For those who weren't here, it was a devastating fire season, in Oklahoma and Texas. I was on one end of the county covering fires north of Marlow and could see the smoke from fires more than 30 miles away. That's insane! I don't remember how many miles I drove that day and evening in covering, but I do remember escaping from a fast moving fire. That was scary. The worst thing though was right after that I returned to the newsroom and another reporter and I heard the most distressing scanner 'chatter' ever, as two firefighters were not so lucky and were trapped. One of them died.
Oklahoma has been very dry this year and when the wind rages like this, combined with the dry conditions, fires flare up. Do what you can to fireproof your homes. Keep debris removed, like dry firewood, shrubbery, etc. Make sure you have a fire escape plan and always know where your car keys are! Also, have water faucets outside in running order and get water hoses. Keep your lawns watered and the plants around your home. The moisture helps.
Firefighters advise residents on course of action.
Oklahoma scenes, Central High area, northwest of Marlow.
The wind is raging here in southern Oklahoma right now. And the fire danger is high. Reminds me of 2006. Today fires shut down highway 7 east of Velma. Very reminiscent of three years ago.
Here's some old shots. For those who weren't here, it was a devastating fire season, in Oklahoma and Texas. I was on one end of the county covering fires north of Marlow and could see the smoke from fires more than 30 miles away. That's insane! I don't remember how many miles I drove that day and evening in covering, but I do remember escaping from a fast moving fire. That was scary. The worst thing though was right after that I returned to the newsroom and another reporter and I heard the most distressing scanner 'chatter' ever, as two firefighters were not so lucky and were trapped. One of them died.
Oklahoma has been very dry this year and when the wind rages like this, combined with the dry conditions, fires flare up. Do what you can to fireproof your homes. Keep debris removed, like dry firewood, shrubbery, etc. Make sure you have a fire escape plan and always know where your car keys are! Also, have water faucets outside in running order and get water hoses. Keep your lawns watered and the plants around your home. The moisture helps.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
CONTEST! Seniors!
It's been awhile since I've had the chance to do some fun portraits. If you are a senior at a high school in Stephens County (Duncan, Marlow, Empire, Velma, Comanche Bray or Central High) and haven't gotten your senior portraits done yet and you are set to graduate this spring, then post a comment and tell me why you deserve a free photo session?! If you are from anywhere in the southwest region of Oklahoma and are up to driving here for your photo session, go ahead and post also. You could be from Walters, Lawton, Yukon, Mustang, Edmond, etc.
Surely there are takers out there? You can see some of my senior portraiture at my web site: www.tonihopperphotography.com. Go to the button on the left and then under galleries you'll find a section for Seniors.
Morgan, a 2008 graduate from the OKC metro area, said she didn't realize a photo session could be so much fun. I think the excitement of tornados/impending storm looming added to the drama. Bridgette of Rush Springs also had a blast! As did their moms and anyone else they brought. I could list off some more seniors comments, but I think you get the idea.
I'm all about fun and wanting to make sure you get portraits that you love!
So, post your comments and spread the word. At the end of the month, I will announce a winner.
Now come on, don't let me down. The post that most intrigues me wins. You'll have to post an e-mail so that I can contact you.
Surely there are takers out there? You can see some of my senior portraiture at my web site: www.tonihopperphotography.com. Go to the button on the left and then under galleries you'll find a section for Seniors.
Morgan, a 2008 graduate from the OKC metro area, said she didn't realize a photo session could be so much fun. I think the excitement of tornados/impending storm looming added to the drama. Bridgette of Rush Springs also had a blast! As did their moms and anyone else they brought. I could list off some more seniors comments, but I think you get the idea.
I'm all about fun and wanting to make sure you get portraits that you love!
So, post your comments and spread the word. At the end of the month, I will announce a winner.
Now come on, don't let me down. The post that most intrigues me wins. You'll have to post an e-mail so that I can contact you.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Robin McGraw, Oprah and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins
Those who offer hope and inspiration:
The three women I mentioned in the title are the inspiration for this post. It started this morning when I got a return call from Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins. I have been excited about this all day! I've known Jari for years and she has announced her bid to run for Governor for the state of Oklahoma! Whoohoo! When she was running for the Lt. Gov. position, I actually did some photographs of her at her church for her campaign. It was wonderful and I've learned so much since then as a photojournalist, photographer, writer and more. Jari is one of those people that always remembers your name and always seems so level headed and professional. Yet she's one of the kindest, warmest women. So after talking with her on the phone this morning for comments for our headline story, I just knew today would be a good day. She just seems to have that effect on people.
I didn't have much to do at work, got most of it knocked out by noon and I came home from work early today and actually accomplished a few things. The biggest being my desk and cleaning it! How can I be productive when my work station at home is a cluttered pile?! With that out of the way, then I felt like I could do more.
After, I sat down and watched a show that I normally wouldn't watch, The Doctors. A talk show, but it was their guest that prompted me to sit and watch. Robin McGraw.
When I heard her name, I knew it would be worth watching. I've not had the opportunity to meet her (well, I may have, memory fails me on that one). It might have been when I did a story on Cindi Broaddus and some trees were donated to the local park in Cindi's name. I'll have to find that article and scan it in.
(See another story here: http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/181 {not mine}. Cindi and Robin are sisters and Robin has been to Duncan many times. Her new book hits the stands tomorrow and I am going to put my name on the library list to read it. I'd go buy it, except it's part of my pledge to not buy books this year since I have so many backed up that need reading (see Sunday's post!).
But the theme of the show was just making sure you take time for yourself. This is so true. If you don't take time for yourself, then you can't take care of your family. Robin said it's not being selfish. It's just important.
Then I turned it to Oprah after watching the entire hour and there was Oprah talking very candidly about this past year, her weight gain and tiredness and thyroid issues. And her lack of joy. Wow. Oprah, get your joy back! If I can do it, so can you! I know what she's talking about. Years ago, I was getting sicker and sicker and it got to where I couldn't even lift a coffee cup to wash it. Just horrible. I was even afraid to go to sleep for fear I'd never wake up. Can you say INSOMNIA?
I didn't know what was wrong. Some events opened up doors and I went to a doctor and sure enough, it was my thyroid. I even felt negative, empty, poor me pity, all of that.
I made some serious changes, eating habits, sleeping, work, etc... I believe those saved my life. I'm slowly incorporating exercise back into my life.
Which brings me to this next step. Mind you, getting "YOU" back doesn't happen overnight.
But listening to people like Robin McGraw and other inspirational people, Joyce Meyer, joycemeyer.org; and Nicole Johnson (freshbrewedlife.com) are the newest thing for me to add joy and the "me factor" back into my life. It's the encouragement and calmness that these women exhibit and I think to myself, that's awesome! Plus, moving into empty nest syndrome, I think, wow, there is so much that I want to do. For myself, my husband, my children and grandchildren. Yet in a different way than I've done for the past 20 years. I think, wow, why didn't I do this a long time ago?!
So if you are reading this and you feel some joy is evading you, listen online to some of these women, or even men (feel free to tell us who they are with a comment) and oh wait, Rick Green with Wallbuilders. He also comes to Duncan and visits. There's a guy to listen to. When I was younger, my mom and I would watch Robert Schuller on TV. I can't remember why we stopped. Anyway, if you have someone that you listen to, read or look to for inspiration, I'd love to see your comment and what it is about that person that inspires you.
Here's yet another link on a short article on Cindi. Worth your five minutes.
www.womenforhire.com/be_gutsy/magazine/women_who_inspire_us/cindi_broaddus
The three women I mentioned in the title are the inspiration for this post. It started this morning when I got a return call from Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins. I have been excited about this all day! I've known Jari for years and she has announced her bid to run for Governor for the state of Oklahoma! Whoohoo! When she was running for the Lt. Gov. position, I actually did some photographs of her at her church for her campaign. It was wonderful and I've learned so much since then as a photojournalist, photographer, writer and more. Jari is one of those people that always remembers your name and always seems so level headed and professional. Yet she's one of the kindest, warmest women. So after talking with her on the phone this morning for comments for our headline story, I just knew today would be a good day. She just seems to have that effect on people.
I didn't have much to do at work, got most of it knocked out by noon and I came home from work early today and actually accomplished a few things. The biggest being my desk and cleaning it! How can I be productive when my work station at home is a cluttered pile?! With that out of the way, then I felt like I could do more.
After, I sat down and watched a show that I normally wouldn't watch, The Doctors. A talk show, but it was their guest that prompted me to sit and watch. Robin McGraw.
When I heard her name, I knew it would be worth watching. I've not had the opportunity to meet her (well, I may have, memory fails me on that one). It might have been when I did a story on Cindi Broaddus and some trees were donated to the local park in Cindi's name. I'll have to find that article and scan it in.
(See another story here: http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/181 {not mine}. Cindi and Robin are sisters and Robin has been to Duncan many times. Her new book hits the stands tomorrow and I am going to put my name on the library list to read it. I'd go buy it, except it's part of my pledge to not buy books this year since I have so many backed up that need reading (see Sunday's post!).
But the theme of the show was just making sure you take time for yourself. This is so true. If you don't take time for yourself, then you can't take care of your family. Robin said it's not being selfish. It's just important.
Then I turned it to Oprah after watching the entire hour and there was Oprah talking very candidly about this past year, her weight gain and tiredness and thyroid issues. And her lack of joy. Wow. Oprah, get your joy back! If I can do it, so can you! I know what she's talking about. Years ago, I was getting sicker and sicker and it got to where I couldn't even lift a coffee cup to wash it. Just horrible. I was even afraid to go to sleep for fear I'd never wake up. Can you say INSOMNIA?
I didn't know what was wrong. Some events opened up doors and I went to a doctor and sure enough, it was my thyroid. I even felt negative, empty, poor me pity, all of that.
I made some serious changes, eating habits, sleeping, work, etc... I believe those saved my life. I'm slowly incorporating exercise back into my life.
Which brings me to this next step. Mind you, getting "YOU" back doesn't happen overnight.
But listening to people like Robin McGraw and other inspirational people, Joyce Meyer, joycemeyer.org; and Nicole Johnson (freshbrewedlife.com) are the newest thing for me to add joy and the "me factor" back into my life. It's the encouragement and calmness that these women exhibit and I think to myself, that's awesome! Plus, moving into empty nest syndrome, I think, wow, there is so much that I want to do. For myself, my husband, my children and grandchildren. Yet in a different way than I've done for the past 20 years. I think, wow, why didn't I do this a long time ago?!
So if you are reading this and you feel some joy is evading you, listen online to some of these women, or even men (feel free to tell us who they are with a comment) and oh wait, Rick Green with Wallbuilders. He also comes to Duncan and visits. There's a guy to listen to. When I was younger, my mom and I would watch Robert Schuller on TV. I can't remember why we stopped. Anyway, if you have someone that you listen to, read or look to for inspiration, I'd love to see your comment and what it is about that person that inspires you.
Here's yet another link on a short article on Cindi. Worth your five minutes.
www.womenforhire.com/be_gutsy/magazine/women_who_inspire_us/cindi_broaddus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)