Monday, September 22, 2014

Les Klinger In Tulsa, Philbrook Museum Garden, And Other Groovy Surprises


Les Klinger is a very attractive man.  But with a mind so sharp - so Renaissance - that he could look like a toad and still have every eye in the room the moment he gets up to speak.  So here's the upsetting part - John and I didn't get to see him speak.  And it was not his fault.  Or our fault.  For months our Tulsa Sherlockian Society, The Afghanistan Perceivers of Oklahoma , had been planning a dinner to celebrate our 40th Anniversary.  And engaged Les Klinger - the most exciting guest any Sherlock Holmes group could imagine - to come and speak.  The only thing we were absolutely assured of was that no matter who else wanted to have him speak during the day, it would only happen if he was also going to speak at the Dinner that night.  So when we read the numerous emails about the dinner at 7 on Saturday, what else were we to think but that we would be entertained by the man that Robert Downey Jr asks when he wants to know something about Sherlock Holmes.  Surprise - Tulsa University had a big presentation at 4 - where Les gave the only talk (and we were told over and over again how amazing it was) he would give in Tulsa.  And not a word - not an email - not a phone call - to tell most of us that this happened.  Of course if you worked or were a student at Tulsa University you got to go.  If you were the Texas group that came up for the Dinner, you got told (on Thursday, so not much advance notice).  But the rest of us?        
 We got entertained by "Radio Plays" written by very clever members and performed by professional actors.
Could I have had a worse hair-day?  (Doesn't he looks a little like a straight version of Tim Gunn, but more fit?) 
I have noticed that most of these pictures look the same - but my Grandson is Waving!  I'm sure the pictures I take the end of January when he is finally born will be even better.  I don't think Amanda will teach after he's born, at least for the rest of the school year.  Sorry, all you Cal students - just wait and take your French classes next year.  Our gain is your loss. 
My niece - the one who told me I should start blogging when we moved to Tulsa so the family could keep up with my fast-paced, exciting life - is quite the seamstress.  This is her cute son, Joseph, dressed up like Krisoff from the movie Frozen.  The trim is some Fake Fur that I picked in the Los Angeles Garment District because fur vests were in fashion.  And I sent it to my nieces to make costumes with because as sometimes happens with sewing people, I didn't get it made into a vest until vests were out of fashion.  (I know - they are back in style again.  But you just can't keep everything waiting for that to happen.)  (I mean, really, how many of you still have Bell Bottom Pants waiting for the next time they're the Hot Item?)  (Unless, of course, you are saving them for a Hippie Party, which I totally understand.)  (Groovy, Baby!) 
 
And from my weekly visit to the Philbrook Museum, here is a picture of the post card of The Little Shepherdess by William Bouguereau - 1889.  Because I am nothing if not Law Abiding, I would never sneak a picture of the actual painting or lift an unauthorized picture someone else took, all I can show is this tiny grainy image.  But my point, and I do have one, is that this is exactly what my mother looked like when I was a child.  And it is appropriate, since her ancestors were raising sheep in Gap, in the French Alps, when they decided to come to Southern California. 
 Wildlife from the Philbrook Gardens - a Praying Mantis.  I won't bore you with another spider picture today, but anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of the spider for pest control.  I have a beautiful one on my front porch, which was in danger of becoming a meal for one of these ravenous carnivores.  I grabbed a plastic bag and captured it and made John drive me and my captive bug the 5 miles to the church that Garth Brooks goes to.  And dropped him off unharmed.  Seemed apt. 

10 comments:

  1. No doubt about it, your life is full of interesting surprises. The shepherdess looks just like you, which all figures out. Hi to your waving grandson, and cute little Joseph. Had to google Les Klinger and admit I'd never heard of him. Will try to remember in case he ever comes here!

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    1. Hi Patricia - I have been enjoying your world travels - you seem to be visiting all my favorite places. And helping me to add a few more to my need to visit list. Not surprised you didn't know who Klinger is, but how about Garth?

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    2. Hi Beryl, glad you like my travels. Yes, have heard of Garth Brooks (and Trisha Yearwood), but must admit don't actually know any of the songs.

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    3. To tell the truth, Patricia - I don't know any of their songs either!

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  2. Never heard of Les Klinger but even so I'm sorry you didn't get to hear him speak when you thought you would.

    So you DROVE a spider someplace safe? If I find one indoors I do carefully put them outside but I've never considered driving one across town.

    Darla

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    1. Hi Darla - Actually I drove the Praying Mantis - to a church. And not the closest church. In Tulsa there are church on practically every corner.

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  3. HI Beryl - just love love love the waving grandchild - already has so much personality, so cute.
    and wait- you belong to Tulsa Sherlockian Society, The Afghanistan Perceivers of Oklahom? that is so cool Beryl.
    Im so sad you didn't get to see him speak though.
    I am quite fond of spiders, can't abide rats and mice but I see spiders and their webs as intriging

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    1. Hi Jody - It is so cute that he's waving - and he did it with both hands. I see an ambidextrous grandson in our future.
      I was so inspired by your pilgrimage. But I bet being home in your own bed is a relief.

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    2. Re the bed...Oh it is Beryl.
      Re the ambidextrous bubby, that always wins the game doesn't it?

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  4. I hope you've written a curt letter/email to the person(s) responsible for misleading you about the speaker! (Or would that be the man himself?) How disappointing for you (though I've never heard of him either). I loved Garth & Tricia - 20 or 30 years ago maybe. I love silence most of the time these days, must be getting old. Really great costume - costumes are so much easier than real clothes, they don't have to last as long and kids generally wear them in the dark! We always took care of our praying mantis's too...maybe something to do with their name? You do write busy posts!

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