An Oklahoma Granny: July 2011

Monday, July 25, 2011

A Special Race

Did you know that last Saturday was National Hot Dog Day?

It was.

At least that's what I read.

A week ago Saturday G1 was asked if he would participate in a 'hot dog race' during intermission this past Saturday night.

I'm not sure if the race was scheduled for National Hot Dog Day or not.

But it was a lot of fun to watch.

G1 running to the table

One driver from each of 4 car classes was asked to participate.

G1 thought he had had an edge over the other guys because his turf car is easier to get into than a full body car. (He goes in through the top of the car.)

So here's what was SUPPOSED to happen. The guys' cars were parked side by side on the front stretch. The drivers were lined up along the fence.

'Eating' the hot dog

When they were told to 'GO!' they were to run to the table, unwrap a hot dog, EAT THE WHOLE THING AND SWALLOW IT, then run to their respective cars,

G2 and a 'judge' helping G1 get buckled in.

get in, BUCKLE IN, put on their helmets and race once around the track.

G2 helping his brother exit his car.

After they got back to the starting point, they had to UNBUCKLE, take off their helmet,

Downing a bottle of water.

run back to the table, DOWN a 16 ounce bottle of water then run to the finish line.

Have you noticed that there was only one other participant in the photos? One of the drivers decided at the last minute not to race. I didn't hear why he chose not to but I'm sure he had a good reason. Like he knew the craziness that might come down?

The 3rd driver in the 53 car didn't even make it into his car before G1 and the driver in the blue fire suit were driving off.

From the looks of this picture, who do you think won the race?

If you guessed G1, you're right!

While the other driver is farther down the track, it was G1 that broke the finish line tape first.

As it turned out the competition turned into a 'no-holds barred' race. I'm not sure if the guys were listening to what was supposed to happen or not. See how G1 is picking his teeth? That's because he still had some hot dog (or bun) in his teeth.

He told me later that he initially took a bite of hot dog and started to chew but then he saw the other guy stuff the whole thing in his mouth and run. So G1 followed suit.

The other guy got into his car and was off before G1 was able to. G1 DID buckle in before he took off. We all wondered how that happened. The mystery was solved when we found out the other driver hadn't actually buckled in.

It wasn't too much of a safety hazard because this was all in fun and after all, there were only 2 cars on the track.

So the other guy got back to the starting point first but G1 was close behind and I wish you could have seen the sliding stop he made. It was pretty cool! Almost a 'Dukes of Hazard' type thing.

So he jumps out with the help of his brother, ran to the table, opened his bottle of water but admits to squeezing the bottle so there was more water gushing out than was actually going into his mouth. After the race was finished I did see one of the ladies at the table pour about 1/3 of the water out of the bottle that the other driver had been drinking out of.

So all things were basically on a level playing field - even though neither of the guys followed the rules. And you've got to remember this was all in fun. Just intermission amusement for the fans.

When it really came down to it the only real advantage G1 had was that the other driver ran the wrong way when trying to get to the finish line. Otherwise I'm sure it would have been a photo finish.

G1 accepting the trophy

Before the race started the announcer asked the guys why they agreed to participate. G1 shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't really know.

My guess is because there was a TROPHY involved. And there's nothing that inspires both G1 and G2 more than a trophy.

The Hot Dog Race was so much fun to watch! I hope they do it again.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Trying to Beat the Heat

This is what this week's weather forecast looks like for these parts. It's much the same as it was last week.

Last Wednesday someone clued me in on froggtoggs Chilly Pads. I drove directly to our local Hibbett sporting goods store* and bought one for G1 to use under his fire suit when he races.

I went back the next day and bought 2 more - one for AD and one for G2 to use when he races.

On Friday I decided I needed one too. So back I went to the store. They were almost sold out.

No wonder with the heat we've been experiencing.

AD and I used ours Saturday night at the races.

It was really hot and that chilly pad really helped me stay cool. Well, not like air-conditioning cool, but way cooler than I would have been without it.

AD said his helped him. G1 didn't try his out though. Silly ~~boy~~ young man!

I haven't talked to G2 to see if he used his. (He was in Hutchinson, KS racing on Saturday night and in Muskogee, OK racing last night.)

So now the 3 that's at the house have been rinsed out, rolled up, put in plastic bags and they're chillin' in the fridge until tomorrow night. We're on our way to OKC to watch G3, G4 and Girlie participate in their baseball/t-ball games.

I'm ~~pretty sure~~ 100% we're gonna be needing them.

*When I checked for stores in Oklahoma that carry the Chilly Pads I found that Academy and Bass Pro also carry them.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

A Week's Worth of Happenings

I've been really busy the several days. Did you wonder where I was or what I was doing?

It all started a week ago yesterday (Friday). I was up early to go to a weekend crop at my local (30+ miles away) scrapbook store. The hours were from 10am to midnight on Friday. I only stayed until 10:30pm because I had that long, dark drive home.

Saturday I got up early again, drove back to the store and cropped until 3pm when it ended.

One of the ladies brought me some fresh corn-on-the-cob and some cucumbers from her Farmer's Market stand.

I made the drive home, put the veggies in the fridge until I could get back to them, took a short nap and then headed to the race track.

G2 took home his 40th - FOUR-TI-ETH - turf car career win that night. Just think of all the trophies he has. Not just from his 40 turf car wins but from his kart wins and pure stock wins too!

So AD and I got home about 1:30am. Caught a few z's and were up by 7:30am on Sunday to drive to OKC

to celebrate G5's 3rd birthday.

I made the cupcakes. I realize they were pink but that's because they were fresh strawberry with fresh strawberry icing. G5 didn't seem to mind. Real boys eat pink cupcakes, doncha' know.

G5 mainly enjoyed everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to him and ~~spitting~~ blowing out the candles.

I'm really GLAD I chose to make cupcakes!

Note that no other cupcakes were harmed as the candles were ~~spit~~ blown out.

He's practicing on getting 3 fingers up now.

Later we went to a splash pad that's near their house. It was a great way to cool off in this Oklahoma heat.

From the photos I took I think G5 was the one that enjoyed it the most.

When we got home Sunday evening AD and I collapsed.

But then Monday morning came and we were up ready to meet the new week.

One of my projects was to make lime pickles from the cucumbers I'd gotten on Saturday.

They are YUM - MMMM - MY!!!!!

Wednesday saw me back at the scrapbook store cropping some of the photos I'd taken over the weekend.

Yesterday the Bartlesville Area History Museum held an event where people in period costumes came to speak about various times in history. It was mainly for kids but I had to be in Bartlesville anyway and thought it might be interesting to drop by.

Now through October the museum has a "Mom and Pop" Grocery Store display up.

Boy, did that bring back the memories.

Especially the photo of Dean's Belle Mead Grocery and Market. It was just down the street from my house at the end of the block. I remember spending much time in the store pondering over just what candy to choose from the "penny candy box." Those were some tough decisions for a little girl to make.