Oklahoma City Thunder

December 10, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

We were excited to attend our first Oklahoma City Thunder NBA game!

Charlene was very popular with the Thunder cheerleaders since it was her first game.

We drove for 5 hours today, going from Branson, Missouri to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We found that the Oklahoma City Thunder were playing a home game, so we decided to be spontaneous and buy two tickets way up in the nosebleed section. We were laughing that we had the opportunity to do something unexpected and spontaneous!

Charlene received a button since it was her first NBA game!

Although we have driven through Oklahoma City on multiple occasions, this was the first time we actually stayed in the city. It is always fun to learn about a community, walk around different areas, and meet new people. We also like discovering new, independent restaurants. We looked online and talked to several people about where to eat and selected an Italian restaurant. We had fun talking to our waiter because he was a Kansas City Chief fan and I was wearing a Kansas City Royals t-shirt.

After eating, we headed to the arena for the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks. It was Charlene’s first NBA game, so it was extra fun. The Thunder gave Charlene a big button that announced it was her first game. A local group of “cheerleaders” was excited to meet Charlene since it was her first game.

Our seats in the arena were high up. We joked that we could not tell who the players were because they all looked the same from our height. I really enjoyed watching Kevin Durant play live and in-person. Everyone left happy because the Thunder won!

Court

Dixie Stampede

December 9, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

We absolutely LOVE the Christmas season!

Tonight we were treated to the Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede! It was really fun to have dinner and watch a superb Christmas show. The only thing weird is that they served dinner and did not provide utensils. We each ate a whole chicken (that was delicious), corn on the cob, baked potato, biscuit, pork, and turnover. It was a huge amount of food! I was amazed they could feed an entire arena of people and everyone receive such as nice meal.

Riders in a snow storm

The horses and program were quite impressive! We loved watching all the activities in the arena. Now I understand why the arena sells out so frequently!

Christmas in Branson

December 9, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Charlene is telling Santa what she wants for Christmas!

Ed loves all the Christmas decorations!

Today we had a chance to enjoy many of the beautiful Christmas decorations in Branson. The businesses really have a fun time dressing up the community. It is very fun to enjoy celebrating the Christmas season in a new community!

Charlene is excited to find a Missouri mug with her name!

Christmas on the Trail and Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights

December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Once we arrived in Branson, we had lunch at Starvin’ Marvin’s. Their bear seemed a quite fierce!

We had so much fun visiting Branson, Missouri a couple of months ago, we came back to enjoy some of the Christmas programs. We certainly were not disappointed! We started off watching the Christmas on the Trail and then drove through the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights.

The Christmas on the Trail was a great program!

Lights 9

The Christmas on the Trail started with a fantastic meal of turkey, corn on the cobb, beans, corn bread, and dessert. For feeding a large group of people, it was very good food. I could not finish everything. The Christmas program was from a cowboy perspective of life on a ranch. There was a very nice complement of a Christian emphasis on Christmas, great singing, as well as humor and teasing. I thought it was a wonderful program to get us in the mood for Christmas.

The Christmas season is so much fun!

After the Christmas on the Trail program, we drove through the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights. This was an amazing series of lights and was extremely impressive!

Lights 5

Lights 8

Charlene Avenue

December 5, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

We found a street named after Charlene!

We had breakfast with a nice couple we met at our marriage seminar. As we were leaving the restaurant, we noticed on the GPS that there was a street named Charlene Avenue. This is the first time we have ever seen this anywhere in our travels. We drove to the street and had a chance to take Charlene’s photo in front of the sign! Charlene is a wonderful woman and it is great to find a street named after her!

Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven

December 2, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Spicy Mike’s has absolutely fantastic barbeque! We enjoyed looking at all the rustic ranch supplies on the walls.

Today we discovered a special treat! A couple we met at the marriage retreat we attended a few weeks ago told us they liked Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven. Today we learned why they recommended it. It is a very small independent restaurant in the southeast area of Amarillo. Charlene ordered the pork ribs and I ordered the pulled pork. The meat was especially tender and we thoroughly enjoyed both barbeque sauces. We had to ask for to-go boxes as we could not finish our meals. Their smoked meatloaf is supposed to be very good too. That will have to wait for a future visit. Maybe we will order a takeout meatloaf this weekend? I absolutely LOVE discovering independent restaurant gems!

Thanksgiving 2015

November 27, 2015November 28, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Neil, Amy, Michelle, John, me, and Charlene on Thanksgiving morning.

It is not very often when we can get together with Amy, Neil, John, and Michelle all at the same time. However, we were able to all get together and had a wonderful, but brief, time together. Sorry, this is a poor quality photo from my cell phone.

Charlene and I are starting the Turkey Trot in a cold rain. Fortunately, it stopped raining as we continued on the course. Photo by Sean Steffen / Amarillo Globe-News

Amy, Neil, Charlene, and I were getting ready to go jog/walk in the Turkey Trot. John and Michelle needed to get out of town because a large multi-day ice storm was on its way to Amarillo.

Neil and Amy are in the middle of the photo wearing blue t-shirts. The rain was really coming down! Photo by Sean Steffen / Amarillo Globe-News

Neil and Amy left Charlene and me in the dust in the Turkey Trot. Neil and Amy are in great shape. It was raining on and off during most of the run, but we really enjoyed ourselves. Charlene and I were happy because we finished the 5 K within an hour. After the run, we enjoyed nice warm, long showers and then made a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

College Football

November 27, 2015November 27, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Charlene, Neil, and I really enjoyed a gorgeous day in Canyon, Texas watching WT play football.

While in Amarillo, we went to the final home football game for the WT Buffalos (West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, Texas. We watched them play the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds. The home team won, so everyone was happy. I really enjoy college football so it was nice to enjoy a beautiful day and watch a close game.

mascot

The WT mascot did not seem to be enjoying the game as much as we were. Many people ensure he is well taken care of. He was a fun bison to watch.

Checotah, Oklahoma and Lake Eufaula State Park

October 27, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Charlene shows the length of the fish she caught!

Today we woke to a soft rain that was nice and refreshing. We connected the Jeep and drove through the misty and foggy Ozarks into Oklahoma. It was beautiful to see the all the fall colors as we drove along. We stopped in Checotah and found a Mexican restaurant for lunch. The burro was great, but the beans were so-so.

The view from the camp site we found!

After our stomachs were full, we drove to Lake Eufaula State Park. Hardly anyone was there, but it was a gorgeous lake with several different campgrounds and marinas. We found several camp sites with 50 amp electric and water that we would love. There might be too many trees to use the satellite dish, but the views of the lake were spectacular! Since this area is within a day’s drive of Texas, we may be coming here again in the future.

Gorgeous colors along the lake.

Beautiful Lake Eufaula!

Tonight is the first game of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets. It was very fun to be in Missouri when the Royals won a trip to the final series. It reminded us of when we lived in Kansas City and the Royals also went to the World Series.

The path is from our campground down to a nearby lake.

Walmart and Clinton House

October 26, 2015 / Ed Armstrong

Charlene in front of the first Walmart store.

Today we drove to Bentonville and went through the Walmart Museum. We really enjoyed it! It was quite amazing to see the stores that Sam Walton started and how fast Walmart expanded. It was impressive to see the Presidential Medal of Freedom that he received. Having grown up with a parents that had small businesses, it was truly shocking to see how fast Walmart grew. The miracle from Arkansas has had a worldwide impact. Not too many people can claim that achievement.

I had fun seeing Sam Walton’s famous old truck that he drove around despite being quite wealthy. I liked his truck.

Sam Walton’s old truck he used to drive everywhere.

Presidential Medal of Freedom given to Sam Walton.

After going through the Walmart Museum, we drove back to Fayetteville and went to the Clinton House. Please do not laugh at us. Bill and Hillary were both faculty members at the University of Arkansas in the mid-70s and we toured the house where they were married and lived as faculty members. How many people can say they have been in Bill and Hillary’s kitchen? Or bathroom? Or bedroom?

Clinton House in Fayetteville.

The hog statue at the Clinton House.