Drew's cub scout pack visited the Tulsa Historical Society today.

The Tulsa Historical Society is housed in the Samuel Travis Mansion originally build in 1919 and finally purchased by the Historical Society in 1997 from a developer who had planned to demolish the structure. The right-third of the building was added on to the original symmetrical structure, as well as the triple arches which extend out from the original simply front door.

The tour guide was excellent with a great command of history as well as an ability to deal with the tour participants when they threw her an unexpected curve.

We all learned that the term "uppercase" letters originated with typewriters in which there were no dual-function keys operated by a shift key but, rather, all of the capital letters were originally laid out above the "lowercase" letters.

Drew taking a turn reading the next clue in the scavenger hunt.

This is a "mobile" phone from the 1970s. I'll bet it held a lot of apps in that big case.

Our proud new cub scout.

Today's travels took me to Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and the Chisholm Trail. The plaque below the statue reads:

THE CHISHOLM TRAIL

This trade route from southern Texas to Kansas was used to drive an estimated five million head of cattle north to the railroads in Abilene, Kansas from 1867 to 1884.

Named from a man of Scottish-Cherokee descent who built several trading posts in what is now western Oklahoma, Jesse Chisholm wasn't a cattleman at all. He was a trader, guide and interpreter, who spoke over 14 Native American dialects, possessed a natural instinct for direction, and died without ever knowing that the famous trail was named after him.

From astride his hourse, Chisholm directs his reflective gaze towards the Kingfisher portion of the Trail, offering a traditional peace pipe, symbolizing his role as "Ambassador of the Plains."

Tonight we topped off Drew's first reconciliation with a little CherryBerry!

Will and Drew got free tickets at school to the Tulsa Oilers hockey game tonight which was additionally free kid's jersey night...so how could we pass that up! Mama and Landon stayed home while Daddy and the big boys took in the game along with 10,032 other fans.

There was plenty of great hockey to watch. The boys really enjoyed themselves. Unfortunately, Tulsa lost 5 to 2 despite the Tulsa oilers beating the Allen Americans the first three times they had met this year.

Unfortunately, there were too many plays like this. Notice the hockey puck just above the tip of the hockey stick...it was on its way into the net. (#33 Ian Keserich)

And, not enough plays like this. Tulsa goalie #33, Ian Keserich, making a save.

Later in the game, newcomer #35, Steve Christie, was put in as Tulsa's goalie.

The Allen Americans goalie #32, Rejean Beauchemin.

It was nice of everyone to line up like they did so that I could get a good photo. Notice the puck just dropped between the referee's legs.

If my memory serves me correct, the Tulsa Driller had just been needlessly checked hard into the wall and had simply had enough of the opposing players crap. How do you fight with gloved-hands, with an elbow to the head of course. I explained quite well a few years back my opinions on fighting in hockey.

During the game I noticed the opposing team appearing to take a number of cheap shots at the Oilers and attempting to goad them on to escalate into something more. For the most part, our boys refused to take the bait. My photos (700+) really showed this to have been the case. Time and time again a series of high speed shots would show an American going after an Oiler and not once do my photos show the reverse to be true. I could have posted any one of several photos/series but take the above as an example.

Notice how every player is looking down at the puck. Well, all except one guy. One guy who no longer cares about the puck right in front of his own goal.

You see, Mr. D'Apostrophe has stopped playing hockey. Despite no one doing him any physical harm whatsoever, he's gotten it in his mind that he has the right to put the hurt on someone because...ummm...[I've got no words to put here since there is no logical reasoning behind this guy's actions].

My very next photo shows D'Apostrophe making a cheap head shot against a player who wasn't even looking at him let alone doing anything warranting a return of physical aggression. In short, this gentleman is what is known as an ass. It is really sad that this type of behavior and the fighting that often follows is tolerated, if not promoted.

I hadn't looked back at the post I linked to above until I started to write this after the game tonight. In the post I pondered the fact that I had no answer to the question: "Dad, why are they letting them fight?" It was rather prophetic given this exchange that occurred tonight:

Drew: What are they doing?
Daddy: They're fighting.
Drew: Why are they fighting?
Daddy: Well in other sports they don't let the players fight at all, but in hockey they let them fight a little bit.
Drew: Why?
Daddy: I don't know.
Drew: That's just stupid.
Daddy: Yes, it is.

Professional hockey...meah.

We have had an unusually busy Christmas season this year. As a result, we are just now getting around to seeing the Christmas lights at Rhema Bible College which now appears to go by the official name Rhema Bible Training Center.

Landon enjoyed the lights more this year than last when he was still being wheeled around in his stroller.

Will taking a break from the Rhema Christmas lights.

Drew striking a pose to satisfy Daddy's picture request.

The family taking a quick break. It wasn't as cold as last year and a lot less crowded on New Year's day (the last day the lights are on), than during the Christmas season.

A water reflection shot.

Another reflection shot.

The centerpiece of Rhema's Christmas lights is their lighted bridge.

I still have never seen a picture (let alone one of mine) which conveys how truly beautiful the display is that they put on each year.

The lights change color, flash and move along the length of the bridge all synced to Christmas music play over speakers on the bridge.

It really is quite a phenomenal display.

This is just a small taste of the infinite varieties of lights the bridge displays.

Different multi-colored mixes flash and zip along the bridge to the beat of the music.

Or, single colors are displayed as well such as this red.

Or, this green which, if you look carefully, appears to be preceded and followed by a mix of colors.

No trip to the Rhema Christmas lights would be complete without a photograph in front of the American Flag.