George Flickinger's weather and other stuff blog

Graupel-- huh?!

2012-03-09T09:11:00.011-06:00

(March 8, 2012. Photo courtesy: Marcie M. from Keys, OK. Picture shows a hybrid of ice. This could be considered as graupel...maybe...)

"It's hailing! Wait, I think it's sleet. Uhm, this can’t be snow, uhm, it's uhm…"

If you muttered this to yourself yesterday, you aren't alone!

Yesterday during the cold rain you may have seen graupel (a word the spell checker doesn't even like!) for the first time in your life-- so what is it?

Graupel could be considered part rain, sleet and snow, and it's rare in Oklahoma. In layman's terms, it's a bit of an ice hybrid.

Graupel forms during cold precipitation.

Cold, above ground temperatures cause the precipitation to begin as snow, remaining mostly frozen from cloud level to near the surface. The snow gradually melts above the ground while rain or sleet attempt to freeze to the melting snow.

The rain exists in what's called a "supercooled" state-- water in a liquid form below 32 degrees as it adheres to what's left of the snow. (Supercooled water/moisture is common in clouds.)

You can end up with a compact, smallish icy/snow pellet. It's hard to nail down the precipitation type from viewer pictures alone, and it's debatable whether you call it graupel, sleet, and/or ice pellets. Melting doesn't help identifying the precip type either.

Across Oklahoma, nearly all forms of precipitation fell yesterday in the cold weather: a few flurries were reported west, sleet covering the road in eastern Oklahoma, some small hail fell during "pulse" type storms during the morning. A few reports of the icy slush/maybe graupel came in as temperatures dropped.

Enjoy the pictures on this page... George

(Below: The Wilson family in South Tulsa sent in these pictures of the melting mess. It's difficult to tell whether it's sleet, small hail, ice/snow pellets or graupel.)

Poker Run-- wind chill of 3°

2012-02-15T09:47:00.014-06:00

(ABOVE: In my first ever Poker Run on an 18° morning, I pulled a full house! You receive one random card each mile of the run.)

The coldest morning of the year occurred just in time for the Poker Run: wind chills near zero and fun with frozen boogers!

I only saw three people wearing shorts. That number would have been four until I listened!

I conceded to my wife and my own single digit wind chill forecast just before the run-- I bought running pants at the last minute.

Now the ironic fun... During the run I drew three queens and two fives. (You are handed one card each mile you complete.) I finished with a "full house" of poker cards! My prize from Runners' World? Running pants!!

Enjoy the pics below:

(ABOVE and BELOW: I ran with Dan Lockhoff. His nose is warm. Rumor has it that Susan Collins ran too, but no one is sure.)

(BELOW: And we're off! A 4 mile run on a shivering cold morning.)

(Venus Woods Monyhan and a weatherman. She's training for the Chicago Marathon!)

(ABOVE and BELOW: Here is what's cool about the Poker Run-- you "win" one free thing after you finish. The better your hand of cards, the better your prize!)

(ABOVE: My new running pants which I won!)

Twisting... with Chubby Checker!

2012-01-29T14:10:00.011-06:00

(ABOVE: Justin Wilfon, Deana Silk, and myself "twisting" with Chubby Checker on 2NEWS Midday.)

When I look back some day at the coolest moments of my career, dancing with Chubby Checker will rival anything.

The famous Chubby Checker stopped by KJRH earlier this month as he was in town for a concert.

If you're too young to know who is he is, click here for his 1950s classic, "The Twist." He's one of the biggest names in the history of early rock-n-roll.

Chubby Checker is a delight! You quickly get the feel that he's an old friend. He even knew my name and approached me after watching one of my weathercasts... wow!!

In an interview on "2NEWS Midday", the now 70-something year old legend spoke of his career and the lasting impression that his most famous song, "The Twist" had on America.

"It's a dance that anyone can do, at any age," he told us.

At the end of the interview, "The Twist" played from the loud speaker, and we all joined in dancing. (Had I known my feet would be on TV, I probably wouldn't have worn my usual tennis shoes...)

Thanks Chubby Checker, for being you!

(BELOW: After the interview, Chubby Checker handed me his cell phone! He wanted me to take a pic of he and Deana together.)

Cowabunga dude! Saturday morning run with Runner's World

2012-01-28T20:35:00.019-06:00

(ABOVE: Turtle Trotters-- not to be confused with my Blazing Turtles group. Turtle power!!)

Today I ran my second longest distance ever!

I've been waking up early on Saturday mornings this month to "try something new" just because I can now!

I was promoted to a Monday thru Friday job at the beginning of the year after Julie Chin decided to retire from TV weather at Channel 2.

I love my job and working at KJRH, but after working weekends for 10 years in Tulsa, a new beginning felt welcome. I always looked forward to working the popular weekend morning show, but personally I felt like I missed out on zillions of outdoor weekend opportunities. So new year, new adventures every week!!

This morning's new journey: joining a Runner's World marathon training run. I found out about the run while surfing the Internet looking for new outdoor stuff to try.

A large group, several hundred folks gathered on the clear, cold morning along the Arkansas River. Today's run was a 5 miler. The distances and courses vary weekly. (The running groups are free and open to the public. Click here for their schedule.)

Before the run, group leaders held up signs marking the pace that each group would run.

I joined a group called "Blazing Turtles" which ran a 10-11 minute per mile average. That's a doable pace for me, maybe a tad slower than I usually run. But I'm not used to running five miles either!

I also learned that it's a big deal for runners to bond with other runners in their group, improve their performance and even work up to a faster group.

After a few announcements, the fastest group left first. The age range of my group averaged 30 to 50 years old, though I met a 13-year old who was running with her Mom!

The run felt awesome! The morning air, the quiet environment, healthy living.

The group run was my first since high school! I usually run a few miles alone on occasion, so this was a nice change. I think adrenaline set in too as I wanted to run faster with a group.

Runner's World provided water stops along the way and even snacks at the finish line-- pretty impressive for a free "training" event!

I felt great after running just over five miles which marks only the second time that I've run that far in my life. (I'm usually on a bicycle!)

Another goal blossomed for this year: Run in a Tulsa event.

I've never run in any event before, not even a 5K! (as running events are scheduled on weekend mornings when I used to work!)

Thanks Runner's World-- I had fun. I feel awesome, and I'll be back. Great way to start a weekend!

(BELOW: A large group met at River West Park for an 8am run. Runner's World even provided water and yummy snacks with icing! (last pic)

Eagle watching in Tulsa

2012-01-20T08:23:00.015-06:00

(ABOVE: Paul Orosco took these pictures of a bald eagle taking flight just south of Tulsa near Morris, OK)

Last weekend I woke up before church time on a Sunday morning to eagle watch along the river-- I saw two of them!

The Tulsa Audubon Society partnered with the Jenks High School Ornithology Club during "Eagle Days" on January 14th and 15th.

The group set up high-powered binoculars for the public along the Arkansas River for eagle viewing. I smiled, watching folks bringing their children and grand kids to the event.

I parked at Helmerich Park located south of 71st and Riverside and followed the signs to the watch group.

A small crowd gathered that morning, and we quickly spotted a pair of eagles nesting across the river. It's one of the few times I have knowingly see an eagle in the wild!

We watched them soar across the river and return with fresh critters for breakfast. Through the binoculars we watched the birds interact in the nest-- my first time to see nesting eagles!

(ABOVE: The purple pin shows the location of the eagle's nest. We viewed it from the walking trail along the east side of the river. Another nest is across from 41st and Riverside.)

Their nest appeared huge even from across the river!

The eagles made their home in a tree top, probably 100 feet above the ground on the west side of the Arkansas River in a tree grove. We were located about a half-mile away.

Here's what I learned that day from the Tulsa Audubon Society:

Bald eagles stand over 3 feet tall and weigh more than 10 pounds
Their wingspan is the width of a car
They can fly 100mph!!
Eagles are seen together as mating pairs, and they remain with their partner for life
At a glance, the female and male look the same. However, the female is larger
They may have more than one nest
Nests are usually found in tree tops near lakes and rivers
And their nest may weigh 2,000 lbs!!
Eagles are most active in the morning and during the winter in Oklahoma
Since 1990, eagles have grown from zero to 90 known nests in Oklahoma

If you are interested in wildlife, then I encourage you to make friends with the Tulsa Audubon Society: www.tulsaaudubon.org.

If you've never seen an eagle before, check out their calendar for future events.

I'll be back!

(BELOW: Follow the signs set up that morning at Helmerich Park for eagle watching... The Tulsa Audubon Society set up high-powered binoculars for anyone to view the eagles... The bottom pic is a KJRH viewer pic of a pair of eagles along Avery Drive in west Tulsa.)

Julie Chin :)

2011-12-21T21:35:00.007-06:00

(ABOVE: Covering severe weather-- at 1:30am. The KJRH 2 Works for You weather team in 2008. George Flickinger (me), Julie Chin, George Waldenberger, Dan Threlkeld)

I couldn't believe it when Julie Chin told us she was leaving TV. But at the same time I understood and wasn't surprised.

She informed us of her decision a while back. Her eyes filled with emotion. Mine did too.

....

There's no such thing as a 9-5 job in TV.

Julie's morning schedule is probably the most brutal. Wake up at 2 something in the morning for a 10 hour shift. She doesn't "get credit" from viewers for coming into work at 2:30am. Be ready for lights, camera, action by 4:57am.

She's always the first one in and the last one out on the morning shift.

Why arrive so early? It takes about two hours to make a forecast and prepare the data for the newscast. KJRH doesn't hire someone to do that work either as to a meteorologist, that's like someone else doing your homework. There are no "talking heads" in the weather department at KJRH.

If storms are on the radar, her alarm clock goes off earlier-- she arrives at work at 1:30am. Even going to bed at 7pm, that's less than 6 hours of sleep. If it's raining several days in a row, then wow! Lots of extra hours if the weather lives up to Oklahoma standards.

Julie never cut corners behind the scenes either. Better than anyone else in town she researched local events for specific forecasts, planned out exactly what graphics to show and why, searched for ways to engage the viewer on each individual weathercast. And she did it all with her signature smile and natural enthusiasm!

On top of that, everyone requests Julie! She loves her school talks, hosting duties, volunteering and public appearances. She will continue to be a community pillar after her broadcast career is over.

(ABOVE: Julie Chin (w Jason Grubbs) at one of her zillion events. From the Sand Springs Soap Box Derby. Check out the video! I strapped a camera to mini-Storm Chaser 2 to record Julie racing.)

...

Julie survived Tulsa TV for 9 years, and she did the job better than anyone. Need proof? Look at the results-- KJRH has grown to its highest morning ratings ever.

If Julie has future job plans, she hasn't told us what they are. She and her husband are staying in town, that's all she's saying for now.

Need a spokesperson? Hire her. Need a face for your Tulsa company? She's your woman. She'll learn your business plan better than you know it yourself!

KJRH would, of course, love her to stay on as a meteorologist, but she's too good! Her best days are ahead of her.

I think Julie might be smarter than the rest of us too-- she's now putting her life and her family first! (How fun of a Mom will she be?!)

I'll miss you, friend. After you catch up on some sleep, I'll see you around town. I bet you'll be smiling too, Jules! :)

BELOW: What you didn't see on TV-- Julie tucks her microphone pack out of sight into her sock, and she's two phone books tall! ;)

Lunar eclipse

2011-12-17T19:26:00.006-06:00

(ABOVE: photo courtesy, Mike O'Neal in Sperry.)

One of the best job perks is KJRH viewers sharing their pictures with us. Our meteorologists then get to broadcast those pictures to you during our weathercasts.

This picture of the moon really caught my eye!

Last weekend a lunar eclipse was visible just before sunrise.

On the morning of December 10, 2011 the Earth cast a shadow on the moon. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned and nearly perfectly aligned between the sun and the moon.

If you are wondering why the moon turns an orange-red color, it's due to the effects of Earth's atmosphere.

Though the physical body of Earth lies in the path of the sun during a lunar eclipse, the Earth's atmosphere "sticks out" from the planet. The sunlight passes through the atmosphere scattering the light, making the light somewhat opaque. Earth creates an a orange-red shadow on the moon as a result.

Enjoy this picture from Mike O'Neal in Sperry took this picture.

Going "Viral": that wasp picture

2011-11-16T13:32:00.014-06:00

(ABOVE: my 15 minutes of fame... forever on the Internet)

You have probably been forwarded emails of funny pictures before, right? How about seeing yourself in one of the pictures-- that's happening to me daily!

The wasp picture on the page was viewed over 600,000 times in one week on one web site alone! Most folks don't know or care who I am, it's just a funny pic of a wasp and a weatherman. It makes me laugh too!

Here's what happened-- last month a wasp flew into the camera shot during a "2NEWS Midday" newscast. The camera is located atop the BOK building in downtown Tulsa.

I've seen wasps and other critters a zillion times before on camera, and I didn't think it was a big deal when the critter flew into the shot. But I had fun with it, "Take cover Tulsa!!", I laughed on air!

Someone else thought it was funny too and snapped a picture of their TV. I don't know who started forwarding the picture. One month later, the picture "went viral" on the Internet.

Several web sites including: http://www.reddit.com/ and http://thechive.com/ picked it up. The picture went from a few hundred to 500,000 views in 24 hours.

I updated my personal Facebook page to the picture-- why not?!

Glad I made someone smile... I don't have choice either, I do BEElieve it's out there forever! ;)

(BELOW: I took this pic a few years ago in downtown Tulsa. The wasp picture was taken from a camera over the 52nd floor of the BOK building in the background.)

My results from 2011 Race the Rail, Watonga

2011-10-19T23:05:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: Beat a train, win a trophy.)

Here are my results from "Race the Rail" 2011 in Watonga, Oklahoma. Click here to read a description of the race.

The wind was the huge story of this year's race. I don't think I've ever cycled on such a windy day! Cyclists were faced with a south wind of 25-40mph. And of course when you are pedaling into the wind, that makes the resulting net wind speed worse. My face was red and raw from wind burn!
(ABOVE: Sean Orta from Bartlesville led our group. I could only keep pace with him for the first 6 miles. BELOW: Race the Rail nearly became Race the Rain!)

I needed to average about 20mph over 32 miles to beat the train, and I thought I had zero chance after the half way point. My average speed was only 13mph at mile 16!

I began the race with a group of eight cyclists, but I couldn't even hold 15mph with them due to the wind. I got dropped from the group, and my speed dipped to only 11mph riding solo. I caught on with the next group which rode about 14mph.

But the same wind which killed us rewarded us on the return trip.

To have a chance to beat the train, I knew I needed to average a ridiculous pace of near 30mph for the last half.

So what happened? I averaged 30.3mph and I beat the train by only 50 yards! I was the second to last person who beat the train. I did it!

(BELOW: More pictures and results. Note: the bar graph of my average speed tells the story: 13mph going south, 30.3mph going north!)

I did it!! :)

Bicycle vs Train: Race the Rail

2011-10-03T22:47:00.017-05:00

(ABOVE: I stole this photo from the Race the Rail page. These cyclists defeated the train last year.)

I'm signed up!

On Saturday, October 8, I will purposely race a train on my bicycle. And I'm paying $30 to do it. Sound fun?!

The second annual "Race the Rail" in Watonga, Oklahoma (taking place during their well-known "Watonga Cheese Festival") will easily be the most unique bicycle event I've entered. Cyclists will try to beat a slow-moving train in a race from Watonga to Geary then back to Watonga. While the bikes loop to Geary and back, the train travels half that distance, making one trip from Geary to Watonga.

Here's how it works: Cyclists begin in Watonga. Then ride southward for 16.5 miles to Geary. The bikes will circle Main Street in Geary then head back northward to Watonga. The total bike distance is 16.5 x 2= 33 miles.

Now the fun part: at the same time bicycles leave Watonga, a train departs Geary. The train will slowly choo-choo to Watonga along the railroad tracks which parallel the bike route. The total train distance is 16.5 miles. The train is supposed to travel 10mph.

Fourth-grade math tells me that I'll need to average a smidge over 20mph to beat the train. It's a simple win/lose race back to Watonga. You either beat the train or you don't.

(ABOVE: Cyclists ride 33 miles: from Watonga to Geary and back to Watonga. The train makes one 16.5 mile trip: from Geary to Watonga.)

A problem for me is that I may not be fast enough! I average a respectable 18mph when I ride long distances alone, but I need to pedal at least 20mph. I've never held 20mph for 33 miles.

To have a chance I'll need to ride smartly and join a peloton. (a fast moving, closely clustered group of bicyclers) Pelotons ride about 10-20% faster than solo efforts. The pace depends on the size of a group, the course and especially the wind. I'll need to hold my own so I don't get dropped from the pack.

(I rode as fast as I could. I averaged 18.6mph on this short training ride-- that's too slow to beat a train.)

Other potential issues:

-if I flat tire, I'm out of the race
-no time for a rest stop
-mechanical trouble, no chance

Two other things I'll think about: I'll first pass the train about 8 miles into the race as it choo-choos the other way toward Watonga-- I'll calculate in my head whether I need to adjust my pace. It's possible the train could be slightly slower or faster than 10mph.

And near the end of the race, I'll see the train in the distance, and I bet adrenaline will kick in and help me catch it. Should be fun!

Oh... the weather forecast is "scattered thunderstorms" for Saturday morning. Wifey and me might storm chase after the race!

(BELOW: Here's a low quality screen grab. These are railroad spike trophies for the winners. One would look good on our mantle...)

50mph: Breaking the speed limit on a bicycle

2011-09-20T21:04:00.020-05:00

(ABOVE: Speed limit 40mph? Ooops...)

One of the steepest paved roads that you'll find anywhere is right here within the city limits of Tulsa. I took advantage of it and zoomed to my fastest speed ever on a bicycle.

Previously, 47mph was my all-time top speed. I reached that speed three years ago on a down hill during the Tulsa Tough. I got competitive and was "being a boy" as I raced a friend. I haven't been close to that speed since.

(ABOVE: The huge hill is near mile 12 of my ride along Elwood Drive.)

Elwood Drive between 61st and 71st features a sudden downhill plunge from Turkey Mountain. Topography maps show a short, steep 200 foot drop in less than a quarter of a mile. You very much get a "falling off the edge of the world" feeling if you drive it.

The opportunity was perfect to try Elwood hill on a quiet September morning: sunshine, no wind, and barely any traffic at 9:30am. The road is smooth and straight.

But to race to the bottom I first needed to climb to the top!

I pulled out of Turkey Mountain park and headed north toward the hill's increasing slope.

On approach the hill appeared to rise straight up. The increasing slope added weight. Each pedal stroke proved a deliberate effort. I felt like I was pulling a car with my bike. I was tempted to walk it, but I had to keep going. I would roll backward if I slowed down or tried to get off the bike!

(ABOVE: Near 5% where I'm standing the Elwood/Turkey Mountain hill rapidly increases to 20% grade for about 150 feet.)

I cranked up the hill at a walking pace in my easiest gear. The worst of the climb thankfully stretched only 0.1 miles. I wouldn't have made it much longer!

I reached the top of Elwood/Turkey Mountain with my lungs on fire. I collapsed on a giant rock to catch my breath.

I checked my GPS: near 20% grade! I smiled as I set a new personal climbing record easily surpassing my previous mark of a 15% grade. I learned that 20% is near impossible, but I made it! For comparison, that's nearly twice as steep as Yale Avenue between 81st and 91st in South Tulsa.

Now for the fun part.

(ABOVE: Looking southward, I waited for the few cars to clear before zooming down. The edge of the hill comes quickly.)

I first double checked my bike: brakes good, wheels straight, tires clean. And helmet snug.

I waited until no cars were visible. With the road clear I positioned my bike in the middle of the road, snapped into my pedals, and pointed my front tire straight down. I released the brakes.

My bicycle rapidly accelerated without pedaling. I tucked into a ball to reduce resistance. Within seconds: 20mph, 30mph, 35mph....

I took my eyes off the speedometer to concentrate on the road. I steered in a perfect line nearly down the center of the empty road. Completely focused and perfectly smooth and very fast.

A thunderous river of air rushed through my helmet-- try lowering your car window at freeway speed for comparison. The scenery zoomed past me at what seemed like light speed. I whooshed past the Turkey Mountain park entrance in violation of the speed limit. I knew I was well north of 40mph.

The hill flattened, and I braked gradually at first. I glanced down at my speedometer as it dropped below 30mph. It took a while to slow down!

How fast did I go? I checked the GPS in my pocket: 49.53mph. Wow!!!

I don't plan to break this personal record again, Wifey might kill me before any bicycle would.

Gracie dog escapes!

2011-09-12T15:25:00.015-05:00

(ABOVE: After she was recaptured. Gracie cooling down her tummy on the cold bathroom tile.)

Gracie dog is a bad dog!

She is the only one of our doggies who will bolt for the door when there's a chance for freedom.

If she gets out the door, she runs. And keeps going. For a long time.

She escaped on a 90 degree day when her Daddy was taking out the trash. The 30 seconds it took me to walk the trash to the curb gave her a good head start. She zoomed past me and made good progress toward Canada!

I chased her. And that's just what she wanted.

She likes the chasing game, and I fell for it. She played me!

(ABOVE: Despite the clouds, afternoon temperatures in the 90s during the chase.)

She ran across the street. To the neighbor's yard. Then back across the street. Down the street. Into the field. Then back into the neighborhood. Across the street again. Another neighbor's yard. Then the other way down the street. Repeat the above.

The "Daddy chasing Gracie" game carried on for about 20 minutes. She never let me get within ten feet of her. She was smart enough to not let me corner her. She was slowing down though as the heat got to the bad little girl.

Finally she headed toward a maroon Volvo parked at the end of the street. This car was a stranger to the neighborhood.

Gracie ran around to the other side of the car. The next thing I knew, Gracie was staring at me through the passenger side glass! A white, shedding dog on fancy, black leather seats. Oops... Panting heavily, her long pink tongue drooped toward her front paws.

I walked around to the driver's side, and the door was standing open. No one else was around. Someone had left the door wide open, and Gracie invited herself in!

Hmm. Do I enter the car?! I looked around and saw no one. No witnesses.

Well, I just couldn't leave Gracie dog in the passenger seat... let's make a quick dog nabbing.

I crawled in and slid across the fancy leather driver's seat. The steering wheel and shifter were in the way.

I tried to pull out the bad dog, but she didn't wanna! She appeared to be quite comfortable and ready for a car ride. She was too tired to resist me as I scooped her up. I received doggie kisses for my time.

(BELOW: The car door and Gracie dog as I found them.)

....

I still don't know who owns that Volvo.

I didn't see anyone come out to claim it. Hours later the door remained open as obviously the driver forgot to close it for whatever reason.

The Volvo disappeared the next day. I haven't seen it since.

I know I should apologize or tell someone, but who do I tell? I don't know which house the car belonged to?!

Either way, the driver is probably wondering where the white hair and doggie kisses in the window came from!

Thanks for reading. George

a surprising Tulsa to Orange connection

2011-09-09T00:42:00.018-05:00

(ABOVE: a normal ride to South Lakes Golf Course in Jenks proved unforgettable!)

I had a, "Wow, it's a small world!" moment on my Thursday morning bike ride.

Yesterday I rode with the Tulsa Bicycle Club for a regular 30 mile ride. I enjoy the rides for fun exercise and the recent cool down helps too. The temperature on my little bicycle thermometer showed 63 degrees. Perfect!

This normal ride; however, produced a lifetime memory.

I left from KJRH, and our group biked from West Tulsa to Sapulpa to Jenks. We chose South Lakes Golf Course in Jenks as our rest stop. It was my first time there. I learned you can ride your bicycle right up to the club house. "Can you get a bicycle valet parked here?!", one of the riders (Jay Mowery) jokingly asked.

Inside the club house a gentleman was sitting alone at a table having breakfast. He just looked like someone I should know. He looked about my Dad's age.

His shirt caught my eye. From a distance the logo on his shirt resembled a logo on Dad's old golf hat.

"Hi George", I heard when I walked in.

I smiled and formally introduced myself. I met Mr. Bill Cooper. I joined him while he finished breakfast. "I was just in Orange", he told me.

I easily assumed he knew that the small coastal town of Orange, Texas was my hometown. Most Oklahomans have never heard of it.

On closer inspection I was nearly speechless when I saw the logo on Mr. Cooper's shirt-- an embroidered Sunset Grove Golf Club logo-- that's where Dad played years ago! In fact I still have his old Sunset Grove golf hat!!

Mr. Cooper told me more. Not only does his brother, Jeff, live in Orange, but it turns out that he knew details about my family that only someone from Orange would know.

More, "oh wow" conversation followed.

Mr. Cooper said that Jeff is the Golf Pro at Sunset Grove! He knew my Father well, and probably played golf with him. These days, he sees and chats with Mom during the Sunday lunch after church. Years ago, Jeff may have seen me as a kid swimming at Sunset Grove.

More "oh wow"-- Mr. Cooper told me that as part of his tour of Orange last week, his brother drove him by the Flickinger family home. I later told Mom, and we chuckled as we hardly thought of our home as a tourist attraction!

So... For a rundown:

-I stopped at a golf course on my bike which is sort of random anyway.

-Never had been there before, and the only person inside just happened to visit Orange.

-Who has family in Orange.

-Who played golf with Dad and talked to Mom earlier in the week.

-Who drove by the Flickinger house just to see it.

-And happened to be wearing a shirt from Orange which is what led me toward him in the first place.

-All just because he visited Orange last week. Wow, just a major wow moment!

I completed my ride with the rest of the bike group after I said goodbye to Mr. Cooper.

Just a normal bicycle ride, eh?! Glad I woke up early that morning instead of sleeping in. :)

Thanks for reading, George

(BELOW: Dad's old Sunset Grove golf hat lives on. )

Running: the "One Mile Puke Run"

2011-09-06T14:51:00.013-05:00

(ABOVE: Dan Lockhoff is one of those dudes above. He keeps our storm chases lively.)

"Hey, George! Guess what?!"

"I wanted to see how fast I could run one mile, so I just started randomly sprinting! I made it in just over 7 minutes, then I saw stars and puked!"

This is the conversation Dan Lockhoff had with me and how the "One Mile Puke Run" got its name.

Dan is a born again runner. A high school athlete who used to run 5 minute miles, he's now in his 30s and wanting to "get back in shape". He's training for the Tulsa Run in November.

I saw this One Mile Puke Run as a challenge... so I tried it! I didn't know what to expect as I have never set a time goal before or "sprinted" for an entire mile.

I chose a cooler day with temperatures in the 80s for my first effort. My first run: 7 minutes 15 seconds. Sweat poured off of me. I collapsed in the grass to catch my breath. (But no barfing!)

I am repeating the run three times a week. My training consists of combining sprints with occasional longer four mile runs.

(ABOVE and BELOW: Training is easy and fun with an Iphone. Tracking my time and pace with the Cyclemeter app.)

Since our first One Mile Puke Runs, we've quietly competed and pushed each other to run faster.
This is the first time that I've ever set a running goal: a sub-7 minute mile.

Through August I'm averaging about 7:30 on my one mile run. I seem to run my best times during cooler weather. Hopefully that trend continues as we move into Fall.

I want to reach my goal of under 7 minutes by the end of the October... stay tuned!

And as a bonus, my stamina and top speed on my bicycle is improving, and I feel great. :)

Thanks for reading, George

(BELOW: View from the trail. I like running near sunset.)

Extreme heat vs bicycle tire

2011-09-06T14:19:00.008-05:00

(ABOVE: Eric's bike ride ended suddenly when his tube exploded through his tire! )

Science 101 teaches us that air expands when heated. Some cyclists, myself included, will lower their tire pressure accordingly to account for possible heat expansion.

Narrow tires on road bikes are designed to withstand high air pressure. You can inflate them to 100 to 150psi. By comparison, the tires on your car are likely near 30-35 psi.

And sometimes, tires go "boom!"

That's what happened last month to Eric Gomez of Tulsa. While riding his bike on a 100 degree plus day, his tube exploded. The tube burst through the tire creating a large hole.

In the picture you can see the outward explosion through the tread.

I've seen tires explode due to hitting curbs and such, but this is the first time I've seen a tire fail, a tube exploding and piercing the tire, when heat is the likely culprit.

I hope Texas A&M DOESN'T move to the SEC.

2011-08-12T21:11:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: My Texas A&M season tickets for the 2012 football season. Are these the last tickets for the Aggies as a Big 12 school?)

This is just me, a Weatherman thinking out loud as a college football fan and Aggie.

College football is my favorite sport. Like my father, I am becoming a tad less attached each year due to the money factor.

As a Texas A&M graduate, member of the 12th Man Foundation and football season ticket holder, I hope that Texas A&M doesn't leave the Big 12 conference.

First off, out of a purely selfish reason, my family living in Oklahoma enjoys playing the Oklahoma schools.

Except for one game a year, we cheer for OU, OSU and other Big 12 schools. My favorite team is whoever is playing Texas!

We've had fun road trips attending games within driving distance at Stillwater, Columbia and Lawrence.

What I don't understand is that by a huuuuge margin, most Aggies want to move to the SEC. I guess I'm in the minority!

(Pac-10/12 talk anyone?)

(ABOVE: I found an old ticket stub from twenty years ago! In 1992, the most expensive ticket to watch A&M and Baylor was $20. This year's game ticket price is $85. *sigh*)

The obvious: A decent A&M team could lose a bunch games every year in the SEC.

Texas A&M appears to be interested in jumping to the SEC for more money, exposure and to "get away" from the University of Texas.

To some degree, all of these are achievable if Texas A&M joins the SEC, but at what cost?

Can the Aggies rise to the challenge?

History isn't on Texas A&M's side against good BCS football programs.

In particular Texas A&M has faired poorly against SEC schools.

The Aggies are winless against the SEC in the last 10 years plus: Lost to Arkansas twice, blown out in bowl games by LSU, a not-so-great Georgia team, and an embarrassing 38-7 Cotton Bowl loss to Tennessee in a game that most Ags expected to win.

The Aggies were also upset by Mississippi State in the Independence Bowl.

(ABOVE: The view from our current seats at Kyle Field. )

Finishing .500 in SEC league play seems like a dream!

I can't imagine the Aggie fan-base being happy about finishing about 7-5 or 6-6 every year.

As most Aggie fans "expect" a near 10 win season, how will they feel about losing 4-6 conference games, possibly every year?

Most Aggies consider the late 1980s and 90s as the glory years of Aggie football. This period coincided with playing in a weak SWC, and before Texas, OU and some degree LSU and OSU got good.

Since joining the Big 12, Texas A&M sunk to generally a mid-pack football program.

The immediate future in the Big 12 appears brighter as the conference is weaker-- the Aggies have done well in weak conferences, not the other way around.

As far as recruiting, I think the SEC could hurt the Aggies as SEC schools would suddenly get more exposure in Texas.

LSU won't get fewer Texas recruits that they do now for example. By comparison, do Aggies think that a high school kid in Mississippi or such would now be interested in Texas A&M?

I'll be optimistic and hope the added exposure can get more top recruits so the team doesn't finish mid-pack every year.

But what do I know? I'm just a Weatherman!

Either way I'll support my school. Just hoped that Texas A&M would stay put.

Can't the Big 12 just get Colorado and Nebraska back and add Arkansas? The Big 13? ;)

George

(BELOW: Cool! I also found an old Texas A&M vs Tulsa ticket in my closet! I doubt the Aggies will ever play AT Tulsa again. They lost on their trip to Skelly Stadium in 1991.)

Joplin

2011-07-27T14:41:00.019-05:00

(ABOVE: My first, and hopefully only EF5 tornado I will ever see. Two days after the Joplin tornado, we witnessed this deadly EF5 rated tornado near Guthrie. The tornado is hidden in the rain and just looks like a scary cloud.)

There's not much to say. Not many words are needed to describe Joplin.

When a tornado basically removes half of the homes on the south side of town, you don't feel like talking.

These pictures are from my two trips to Joplin following the May 22, 2011 tornado.

As a scientist, I examine tornado paths and compare them to radar and other data so that I can be a better meteorologist and broadcaster.

As a weatherman, I snap pictures to educate school children and answer questions from civic/church groups. Education, awareness and having a plan of action are the best survival tools.

But as a person, it kills me every time. The car gets quiet. Chills, loss of appetite, the "what would we do", "how could this happen" type statements.

I have toured each F5/EF5 tornado damage path within our region the last 15 year. There haven't been many: Jarrell, TX in 1997, south Oklahoma City in 1999, Greensburg, KS in 2007 and now Joplin in 2012. My chase team also witnessed the EF 5 tornado which passed from Piedmont to near Guthrie this year.

These pictures on this page are just a few of zillions. I've tried to compare areas of Joplin to Tulsa neighborhoods for perspective.

Though some folks might frown on this and might not be able to stomach it, I do recommend a trip to Joplin to see for yourself.

Everyone tells me that it's worse than pictures can show. You won't want to eat. You may get sick. It's that bad.

A "Tornado Warning" will probably mean more to you. You probably won't yell at the TV as much when we're interrupting your favorite program with weather bulletin.

If you choose to tour the damage, you will truly respect Mother Nature's power. You'll be amazed by the huge contrast from deadly EF5 obliteration to untouched survival.

Joplin will take your breath away. George

NOTE: CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS FOR LARGER IMAGES. Though you may not want to seem them that close.

(BELOW: The damage survey and aerials. The tornado took a horrible track for Joplin. It formed along the city limits, quickly intensifying. The most intense, EF5 damage was about 6 miles long. To put this in Tulsa terms, think of a tornado forming at 41st and Riverside, moving straight east, peaking in damage at Promenade Mall. Everything between 45th and 35th streets removed-- that's how the Joplin tornado compares.)

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(ABOVE: This intersection compares to 41st and Harvard in Tulsa. Before the tornado, the trees were so thick you couldn't see very far, but now what's left of the bottom floor of the high school (brown bricks in distance) can be seen about 1 mile away. BELOW: That's a Chevy 2500 series 6 wheeled truck upside down in an Arby's parking lot. I was told that six people died here. )

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(ABOVE: This is EF2-EF3 damage. I will show this in presentations as why you should seek shelter on the bottom floor instead of the top floor. BELOW: Two weeks after the tornado, power lines are installed. This part of Joplin resembles near 11th and Sheridan in Tulsa. )

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(ABOVE: Signs of life when we visited 6 weeks after the tornado. Some of the trees are surviving, but the neighborhood scars are permanent. BELOW: Look at concrete parking barrier on the bottom left! The other half of the concrete block follows the metal wire and is wrapped around the top of the tree.)

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(ABOVE: Pictures like this one make you cringe. This Walgreens "missed" the worst of the tornado. However, debris missiles can cause grotesque injuries. BELOW: 4 crosses were at the remains of this brick home. And those used to be 100 year old trees, a densely forested neighborhood. These homes compare to midtown Tulsa.)

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(ABOVE: This sounds morbid, but we were nearly playing a guessing game trying to figure out what model of cars these used to be. Maybe a 1990 Nissan Sentra? We couldn't tell. BELOW: EF4 damage in part of Joplin which resembled near 71st and Memorial in Tulsa.)

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BELOW: You want to play the guessing game? What model of car do you think this is? You can see my father-in-law below looking for clues. We found a logo on the steering wheel. And a rain gutter in the back seat. )

ANSWER: the above car is a late model Toyota Corolla.

Bicycling: Tour de Paris

2011-07-21T17:36:00.049-05:00

(ABOVE: Russ McCaskey and me pose for a CORNY picture.)

KJRH news anchor Russ McCaskey approached me a few weeks back about the possibility of riding bicycles through Paris.

Imagine, the views of the Eiffel Tower, cycling the city streets of downtown Paris, curving your way near the city's historic structures while the Tour de France is also ongoing.

Sounds awesome doesn't it?

Well, maybe someday I can do the above in Paris, France. But for now the Tour de Paris in 100 degree Paris, Texas will have to do!

Tour de Paris is the closest cycling event in Texas from Tulsa. Paris is less than 3 hours away, due south of Tulsa.

Scheduled the third Saturday in July, the ride's timing coincides with the Tour de France ongoing overseas.

About 1,000 cyclists participate in Tour de Paris, ranging from 20 to 68 mile rides. The 30 year old event has grown into a big deal for Paris. We listened to local radio promoting it, and signs and banners across town welcomed bicyclers too.

Russ and me, along with his brother Lance chose the 57 miler, one of four lengths offered.

The ride begins on the south side of Paris near Love Civic Center. After a detour to circle downtown, the ride turns southwestward making a figure 8 pattern in rural Lamar county. The ride isn't timed.

....

On a unrelated personal note I remember Paris from years ago. Their high school defeated my high school (West Orange-Stark) in football for the 4A State Championship in 1988. I had a college friend named Jason Stephens who played for Paris, and he reminded me several times who won! (This is your Jason who played 3B for the Texas A&M baseball team if any Paris area folks are reading this.)

....

Back to bicycles... Russ and I left Tulsa near 4am, arriving at a Whataburger in Paris for breakfast before 7am. We loaded up on unhealthy stuff. We then drove to and registered at the Love Civic Center, and Russ's brother Lance met us.

The entry fee was $35. Early registration was $25-$30. Fast, easy, no problems getting signed up.

Signs marked the staging area for each distance outside the civic center. Cyclists gathered accordingly.

Tour de Paris began sharply at 8am. Drummers from the high school band pounded out rhythms along the starting line. The morning temperature was already a warm 78°.

A clean start to the ride... large packs of bicycles steered toward downtown Paris. Hundreds of local residents gathered in downtown to cheer on the riders.

We circled the Paris city square-- this was really cool as many cycling events avoid town, choosing to immediately head toward the country. Instead, downtown Paris embraced the ride.

Folks of all ages waved American flags and couples smiled from their lawn chairs. Made me smile too. Nearly a parade-like atmosphere.

After circling downtown we accelerated and headed toward the country.

(BELOW PICS: After a non-heart healthy breakfast and pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower (notice the cowboy hat on the tower), the Tour de Paris begins with a tour of Paris)

Tour de Paris organizers put safety first for the riders. The cycling route along State Highway 19/24 was narrowed for cars so that cyclists enjoyed the wide shoulder. The outside lane of the divided highway was closed off as a buffer.

Lots of police too as state, county and city officers protected highway intersections for the entire route- that's nice to see; you don't see that on every ride.

After cycling Highway 19/24 for a few miles the bikes turned on to Farm to Market roads. FM roads are secondary, mostly smooth roads.

Only local traffic was allowed. Cyclists could take the whole lane instead of just near the shoulder. This compares to rides in Oklahoma where you fight cars for space.

Rest stops were offered about every 7 miles (instead of every 10-15 miles like most). They were quite welcomed too as temperatures climbed.

A few unmanned, intermediate stops also popped up.

Local scouts, civic groups and churches volunteered at the rest stops. Extremely well supported, very impressive!

If you developed bicycle problems on the course though, you are almost on your own. A van from Richardson Bike Mart offered assistance, but you might be miles away. Like most rides you change your own flats.

The course was well marked. Easy to read signs and arrows pointed where to go. Signs also marked how far you were to the next rest stop.

Our 57 mile course was generally flat with only small rises and valleys. The middle 10 miles proved the most hilly, but the steepest climb registered only 4% grade. This compares to climbs I'm used to around Tulsa which can be over 12%.

My average speed was 17mph after 30 miles. For me that's a "comfortable" pace. Wind wasn't a factor. My thermometer showed the temperature climbing toward the upper 80s.

The biggest downhill was just after the mile 40 rest stop. I coasted to 32mph during the near 100 foot drop.

Due to the drought the landscape featured brown grass and rocky creeks. The FM roads across the farmland offered little to no shade. Plenty of corn though!

The last 15 miles were the least fun due to the heat. Our speed dropped. The black asphalt absorbed the sunlight and reflected its heat back to us.

(BELOW: Tour de Paris tours the countryside of Lamar county in northeast Texas. Cyclists are given the entire lane to ride. Officers make sure the intersections are bicycle friendly. Plenty of the smiling faces at the rest stops.)

Lance cycled quite well for only his second ever cycling event. Russ began to struggle some as a problem developed with his shoe and pedal.

Speeds near 13-14mph were the best we could manage in the last miles. Rising thermals created wavy lines in the distance. Felt like riding across a fire pit!

How hot was it? My on-board thermometer peaked at 108°.

The temperature fluctuated as much as 10° depending on the color of the pavement.

We remained at the mile 50 rest stop the longest. Giant box fans and even portable air conditioners felt great! Russ and I agreed later that this was the highest index we've ever cycled.

Every support person seemed to enjoy the cycling atmosphere despite the heat. You could load up with plenty of ice, water, sports drinks and snacks too.

Nearly four hours into the ride we pedaled toward the finish line. Cheerleaders from Paris High School celebrated and high-fived us as we zoomed by. We finished and didn't melt!

Back at the civic center, overhead sprinklers provided an instant cool down. Lance, Russ and me just stood there and soaked up the water. The cool mist felt awesome in the heat; we didn't want to leave!

(BELOW: I've never seen dry creeks this far east. My thermometer registers 105° off the pavement at high Noon. Highway 19/24 is protected for cyclists. At the finish line, Lance, Russ and myself cooling down!)

The civic center offered a free lunch with smoothies after the ride. We enjoyed the air conditioning and gobbled up homemade burgers.

....

Overall, I give the Tour de Paris four out of five stars. The only demotion is that the generally flat terrain and open farmland isn't the most exciting. But overall, it's certainly more scenic than say "Hotter than Hell" in Wichita Falls.

Lets change the rating to a 4.5. The superb support, safety, smooth roads and smiling faces go along way-- I'll be back next year. :)

Thanks for reading, George.

(BELOW: Pickle juice!, An Aggie refusing shade under a Longhorn tent, and Russ McCaskey felt like death.)

Jellyfish clouds and Virga

2011-06-29T19:58:00.004-05:00

(ABOVE: Connie Clark took these pictures near sunrise in Muskogee. These small jellyfish-looking clouds are producing "virga.")

KJRH viewers emailed us unusual looking cloud pictures on the morning of June 27. "What is this? What type of clouds are these?" were common questions.

The answer: "virga".

Virga is rain which evaporates before reaching the surface. The small cumulus clouds pictured above and below were producing light rain, but the rain wasn't heavy enough to reach the ground.

Virga occurs when rain falls through a layer of dry air between the cloud and ground. If the rain keeps falling, then the dry layer moistens. The evaporation cools the air allowing the air to better support the rain. The rain eventually reaches the ground.

No rain was reported in Tulsa, but light rain was observed east of Tulsa in the less dry air.

As far as the appearance, I call these clouds "jellyfish clouds".The overly wispy-looking tails and unusual coloring was from the evaporation plus time of day. Connie took this pics at 6am. The hours near sunrise and sunset are often the most beautiful for photographing weather.

(BELOW: Jellyfish clouds! Looks spooky as the rain evaporates just before sunrise. Thanks for the pics, Connie. )

Record heat... and car trouble!

2011-06-28T22:07:00.008-05:00

(ABOVE: My car's external thermometer runs a tad high... it actually unknowingly warned me)

I posted the picture above on my Facebook page for a few laughs.

While idling on the record setting 106 degree day on June 27, the external thermometer registered a ridiculous temperature. Sure I've seen the thermometer run hotter than the actual air temperature when idling, but certainly nothing close to this! The thermometer sometimes runs about 10 degrees too hot-- but not 30 degrees off.

What I didn't realize is that I nearly had a major car problem!

This morning I fired up the engine to drive to work, and a zillion warning lights immediately lit up the dash. "STOP ENGINE NOW" flashed in giant red letters. I think the engine was about to explode or something. The "low coolant" light flashed too.

I checked under the hood. The coolant tank was dry. Coolant leak!

I last checked my engine fluids about a week before, so I obviously developed a big coolant leak. The 136 degree external temperature was likely picking up extra heat from the engine, a pre-warning me that my engine was too hot.

Good life lesson.

(BELOW: Fill'er up! I refilled the coolant before driving to work.)

June: 2 Walks for You at LaFortune

2011-06-01T12:34:00.009-05:00

(ABOVE: 2 Walks for You meets at the red dot in June. That's the main entrance to LaFortune Park and Golf Course at 55th and Yale.)

"2 Walks for You" is a walking club that I started this Spring. We meet the first and third Saturday of the month after the morning newscast.

Simply put, many of us think it's more fun to walk and exercise together. As Tulsa has beautiful outdoor living, I try to take advantage of our parks and trails. And as some folks don't like to walk/exercise alone, I'm inviting you to join me. :)

For the month of June, "2 Walks for You" moves to LaFortune Park. We are meeting Saturday June 4th at 9am instead of the usual 11am start. NBC is showing the French Open, so our regular 8-10am news will be from 7-8am.

If you haven't joined us before, we walk for about an hour at a modest pace. An hour of walking covers about 3 miles and includes a mid-walk break. Some folks bring their doggies!

We'll meet in front of LaFortune Golf Course at 55th and Yale this month... see you Saturday at 9am. We walk WITH you, that's 2 Walks for You. :)

BELOW: Deana Silk makes a friend at 2 Walks for You. )

My Grandfather, the 49 Star Flag and Memorial Day

2011-05-30T18:46:00.006-05:00

(ABOVE: from 1949. Tom Windham, my uncle, sketched this image of my Grandfather with lead! My Aunt Thelma Windham Emory gave this to me.)

I would like to share an interesting bit of my family's history on this Memorial Day.

My Grandfather was born in the late 1800s, and as a boy, he lied about his age so that he could enlist in World War I. He was only 14 years old.

A large American flag draped his casket decades later at his funeral in 1960. The flag, of course, was presented to the family. For years the flag gathered dust at home. Then my father had an idea: sharing the flag with the church, First Christian Church of Orange, TX.

My father helped start a new tradition, hanging the flag on the chapel's interior walls behind the choir on patriotic occasions. I helped my father hang the flag as I got older and understood its significance.

(ABOVE: From near 1940. Grandfather owned his own photography studio in Orange, and he created this humorous post card called "Texas Minnow". The model is my Aunt Thelma when she was a teenager. BELOW: My Aunt Thelma and me in 2009. She lives on a farm near Mauriceville, TX. She's told me most of the stories I know about my Grandfather.)

Along with the family tradition of the flag, it's also a rarity.

You see, my Grandfather died in 1960-- do you remember what happened in American history that year? Grandfather's death occurred during the short period between Alaska and Hawaii becoming states, and Hawaii wasn't a state yet. For a few months, there were 49 states-- so there are only 49 stars on the flag!

I wanted to share this quick piece of family history with you about our 49 star American flag on Memorial Day, 2011. :)

(BELOW: A 49 star flag represented our country for only months. The family flag hangs at First Christian Church in Orange, TX near Patriotic occasions such as Memorial Day.)

May 24, 2011 Tornadoes and Storm Chase

2011-05-26T22:25:00.016-05:00

(ABOVE: The SPC's morning forecast shows a bullseye tornado target in southern KS and central and eastern OK.)

The storm chase of May 24, 2011 was a bit unnerving as strong tornadoes were forecast in our region. The SPC issued a rare "High Risk" for severe weather from Wichita to west of OKC to Tulsa. Due to the expected low storm cloud bases, the tornadoes would likely be hard to see. The chase would prove difficult.

(BELOW: From our chase two days before, a small tornado near Twin Oaks, OK. The tornadoes expected on 5/22 would be much larger.)

My assignment was to drive to the middle of the High Risk area, then chase the storms back toward Tulsa and our viewing area. (no, KJRH doesn't force me to do this! But I'm the first to volunteer for it.) Enid was the preliminary target.

My chase partner (Wifey) and I left Tulsa near 1pm. Storms were beginning to fire in western and central Oklahoma. A Tornado Watch was issued. We drove west on Highway 412 in StormChaser 2 (SC2).

(ABOVE: Bucky and our other doggies have a storm shelter in case of bad storms. Bucky approves!)

We encountered a computer problem in SC2 near Hallett and were delayed about 20 minutes. We got going again after I fixed the computer and live video feed.

Along with reporting live via Bluetooth, I've gotta: answer and ignore two dozen phone calls and texts, look at weather maps, road maps, GPS, radar data, figure out where to drive now and future, while taking pics and video when possible, scanning the storm with my eyes, and grabbing a handful of Runts candy for dinner, I have to fix whatever computer problems come up. And drive in severe thunderstorms-- storm chasing sound fun yet?! Oh, and watch out for falling debris too! More on that shortly...

(ABOVE: The blue cross-hairs shows our location. We decide to abandon heading west toward Enid as the storms toward OKC have better potential to become dominant)

Storms fired from west of OKC to west of Enid. The storms near Enid were behind the main line, and were having difficulty achieving their potential. They were unlikely to "turn right" and head due east, so we changed our plan and targeted central Oklahoma.

(ABOVE: My view driving SC2. The sky appeared the same shade of gray.)

We dropped south on I-35 toward Guthrie. The storms immediately to our west didn't look worthy of chasing, so we pulled off I-35 to refuel. I also have to plan ahead on gas as we have short cruising range.

Tornado Warnings 100 miles away. Tornadoes touched down west of OKC. We heard reports of damage in the western suburbs of OKC. We would chase whatever evolved from it. Dan Threlkeld called. He wanted us to patrol this area to cover the storms as they moved toward our viewing area.

Storms with Tornado Warnings proceeded through and north of OKC. We repositioned ourselves south of Stillwater to intercept. We abandoned I-35 in case of traffic problems due to the Warnings.

(ABOVE: We drive south. We are positioning ourselves to intercept the northern Tornado Warning. This storms looks larger than the Tornado Warned storm in the middle.)

We drove parallel to I-35 heading south on dirt and gravel roads toward Langston. On radar, a massive looking wrapped up tornado signature appeared to head toward Guthrie. We heard reports of a tornado "on the ground".

We turned west from Langston and nervously drove on Highway 33 toward Guthrie searching for the tornado. Little conversation in the car as we scanned the skies.

A huge storm was obviously in front of us. The gray sky appeared a solid color, and it was hiding subtle features which could indicate where the tornado was hiding. Dan Lockhoff back at KJRH messaged us saying that a tornado was highly likely in Guthrie. We were three miles away. I switched our radar data feed from rain to velocity, and the tornado signature was obvious.

(ABOVE: This is wind velocity mode. The tornado would be where green meets white and red. We very cautiously drive westward.)

The sky darkened as we approached Guthrie from the east. Tons of lightning in front of us. Several police cars and storm spotters were the only cars on the road. The clouds were dark and spooky; lightning nearing. On radar, the tornado should appear in front of us soon.

Wifey and I couldn't see it, and we were getting too close. We turned around one mile from Guthrie and drove back east. We didn't want to get caught in town if a tornado suddenly emerged in front of us. We drove up a hill for better visibility. With the SW to NE movement, the tornado should pass just to our north.

We pulled off 33. A dark feature appeared just north of the highway. I recognized a crisp wall cloud through the rain. A black cloud then extended to the ground-- this was it. A large, dark tornado was one mile away. It didn't look like a classic "Wizard of Oz" tornado, instead it was a dark cloud attached to the ground. Rain being pulled into the circulation meant the tornado was hard to see.

(ABOVE: Tornado. The crispness of the mesocyclone isn't obvious. We are looking just northeast of Guthrie.)

The wind suddenly and rapidly increased from the west-- this was the rain and wind wrapping around the circulation. The rain overtook SC2 and our visibility was quickly dropping to zero. We accelerated to safety driving east. When safe, we pulled off a few miles later to capture more video. The tornado, now between Guthrie and Stillwater looked more like a cloud on the ground. The rapid churning could only be seen up close, and this wasn't a storm that we wanted to see that close!

The outer rain bands and wind caught up to us again. Stuff started falling from the sky. Roof tiles fluttered past! A tree branch from somewhere soared over the road. The tornado obviously had hit homes somewhere near Guthrie, and occasional pieces of storm damage fell from the sky. I vividly remember a black, asphalt roof tile flying past the windshield. We were safe from the tornado, but the strong wind, falling chunks of whatever weren't fun to drive in.

Lightning. It was intense as it gets.

Frequent, powerful bolts struck every few seconds. We saw a tree get hit. The gas station we briefly pulled into had its sign blasted by lightning. Blinding purple flash, and the thunder sounded like an explosion.

(ABOVE: Highway 177 toward Stillwater. We can't tell from our view, but this tornado remains "on the ground".)

Rain bands rocked our vehicle. We zoomed east and decided to leave the storm especially as the rain began to completely choke off the inflow wind. And we couldn't see the tornado anymore.

The tornado died before moving into Stillwater, and the tornado threat was over for now. The storm would later produce an EF2 rated tornado in Osage county.

We headed east and south as our attention turned to Tulsa. The storms were somewhat evolving into a line. The storms were changing structure as visually they appeared outflow dominant. We followed the storm line for about an hour into Lincoln and Creek counties as they moved toward Tulsa.

We then decided to leave these storms as "only" straight line wind and hail were the immediate threat. Quarter-size hail pelted us near Bristow. We shrugged it off and kept driving. At this point I visually knew for the first time that Tulsa county was going to live. The ugly looking clouds were more scary-looking than tornado-like.

(ABOVE: Old Highway 75 near Sapulpa. The leading edge of the cloud indicates cool, but strong wind pushing out from the storm. Tulsa would be fine.)

The smooth bottoms and unusual looking attachments indicated cold air blowing out from the storms. Storms which produce tornadoes (except for gustnadoes) suck in air. Sure, straight line winds can cause damage, but a big tornado wasn't going to remove Tulsa. Our doggies back home would be fine. :) Back at KJRH, Dan, Andy and Julie warned Tulsans of the wind.

Another cluster of storms was moving into our viewing area just south of Tulsa. These storms produced Tornado Warnings and damage earlier near Chickasha and Shawnee-- if locations south of Tulsa were going to have tornado problems, this would be it.

We drove through Creek county to get south of Tulsa. I took county roads and Old Highway 75 to avoid traffic in Sapulpa. SC2 was drinking gasoline with my spirited driving too. The needle on the gas gauge was plunging quickly.

A Tornado Warning was issued for Okmulgee county. We drove to Kiefer, then east to Glenpool then south on Highway 75. A gas station I planned to stop at south of Glenpool was closed.

Stupid trees were blocking our view to the southwest. While doing a phoner on live TV, I said something like "Hey Andy (Wallace). I love our beautiful trees here in Oklahoma, but I don't like them much now as they are really getting in the way of me trying to see the storm!" He chuckled. A little humor, I guess during a stressful situation.

We kept zooming down 75 looking for a clearing. What was beyond the trees? Our radar velocity feed indicated a not-well-developed circulation approaching Beggs. We exited Highway 16 toward Beggs. I found a small clearing and pulled over.

Finally able to see the storms, the supercell had good structure and a small, not-ready-to-tornado-yet wall cloud. "We have wall cloud, but no tornado," I told our viewers on live TV.

The storm was sucking in air. We were east of the storm, and a steady east wind was flowing into the storm. Tornado potential was growing.

My low fuel light came on. I had driven 201 miles since refuelling. A "normal" Honda Element should return about 25mpg on the highway. With our weather stuff nailed to the top of our heavily modified Honda, heavy on board computers and electricity usage, we averaged 16.6mpg for the chase. When your gas tank only holds 13 gallons, uhm, yeah, you do the math!

With no gas stations anywhere for miles, we were forced to briefly leave the chase. I zoomed south to Okmulgee to refuel. At the Shell station, lots of people swarmed our vehicle with weather questions. People took pictures of us. We quickly told them that Okmulgee was fine. I was in hurry, so I put in just 6 gallons and left abruptly.

Back to the chase. Our velocity data indicated the circulation crossing Highway 75 near Highway 16. We were 10 minutes behind it now. We exited on 16 east, and we saw no signs of tornado damage. I relayed this info to our viewers.

(BELOW: I don't recommend this! We drive due east through the edge of the circulation.)

We drove in the rain, east on 16 while the strongest part of the storm churned over rural Okmulgee county. The storm was intensifying on radar as it approached Haskell. The storm was intensifying also from our view. A tornado could develop at anytime a few miles to the left of my driver's side window.

A very strong NW wind tried to blow us around. Two hands on the steering wheel. Very heavy rain was falling.

I did another live phoner. I warned of the increasing inflow, and that a tornado could form near Haskell. Andy and Dan called my driving "performing a surgical manuever" as I knew exactly where we were in relation to the possible tornado toward my left.

This mesocyclone wind was circulating counterclockwise. Our driving goal was to navigate around the wind, around the circulation, and we'll stay out of the tornado. I felt the west wind push us. We would be fine in our location.

(ABOVE: Purple dot shows our position. We choose to not pursue the tornado northward as we might not see it near sunset.)

As we got south and east of the storm, a very, very strong south inflow crosswind made driving more adventurous. The storm was sucking in tons of air, doing everything visually and wind-wise to produce a tornado, possibly a large tornado. Chief Meteorologist Dan Threlkeld warned viewers of a tornado approaching Haskell. Wifey switched the radar feed to rain mode-- the display looked like a "tornado on the ground" near Haskell.

We got east and ahead of the storm, the proceeded north with caution toward the tornado. Was now nearing 9pm, getting too hard to see thirty minutes after sunset. If a tornado was on the ground it would cross in front of us. We couldn't see anymore.

Would require vigilant driving heading toward Haskell as we could be driving into the debris path.

(ABOVE: Oak tree completely blocks our path. Would find a different route into Haskell.)

South of Haskell we screeched to a halt. A large oak tree covered the road, obvious storm damage. We couldn't drive around it, so we doubled back for another route into town. After dark and with no visibility, we decided to end our chase and look for possible damage. We have a large First Aid kit in SC2 just in case...

...

We arrived in Haskell minutes after the storm passed. Debris was scattered, a tornado has just torn through town. A few roofs were gone, signs destroyed, trees down, metal pealed away and electricity was out. I felt somewhat relieved as it wasn't a huge, "ground scrubber" type tornado. No injuries, no one died. The town would be ok.

I tried to help where I could before the news. I drove SC2 into a neighborhood so the headlights could shine and illuminate a tree which was being chainsawed to clear the street. A firefighter asked me to tell our viewers to "stay out" of Haskell. Non-residents were driving through interfering with the searching and clean up.

(ABOVE: Several trailers were blown over in Haskell.)

I did live reports from Haskell for the 10pm news. I stood next to a pile of roof debris and described what damage I could see as looking like an EF1 tornado. The NWS later surveyed the damage and assigned it an EF2 rating. The tornado was on the ground for 8 miles, and I'm guessing the worst damage was northeast of Haskell. The tornado crossed the Arkansas River and dissipated near Red Bird. Another tornado from the storm created more damage in the Wagoner area.

(ABOVE and BELOW. Wifey took these pics of 2NEWS reporter Jason Grubbs and me. In the bottom pic, I am the cameraman for Jason's live shot. I'm Skyping with a Ipad.)

...

Tulsa and our viewing area survived the storms. On what could have been a really bad storm day for eastern Oklahoma, most of us did just fine. On a scale to 10, the level of difficulty for this chase was about a 10.

We helped get the word out. I love my job and its responsibility. I live my dream every day working as a meteorologist in Oklahoma.

That's the story of my work day for May 24, 2011. Thanks for reading. George

(BELOW: This pic made me smile for some reason. Probably because everyone pitched in. A tow truck is used to haul away a fallen tree along the city streets of Haskell.)

Tornadoes and the night before...

2011-05-24T00:45:00.001-05:00

(ABOVE: Wow! A KJRH viewer sent us this pic from Cleora, OK. Looking eastward as a large tornado crosses Grand Lake. May 22, 2011)

I'm tired but can't sleep. It's the night before...

I hope the forecast is a bust. Hopefully our data is wrong and nothing happens. Most computer models suggest Tuesday as a big day. The SPC is using terms like "classic tornado outbreak" after analyzing forecast data. I don't disagree.

This has already been the deadliest tornado year in modern American history. After watching the massive outbreak in Alabama and the Southeast, we got a scare closer to home when a likely EF-4 tornado smashed Joplin on Sunday.

KJRH Meteorologist Andy Wallace told me his parents are fine, but his childhood home is gone now. (Joplin is Andy's hometown.)

(ABOVE: My chase from May 22. I took this picture of a small tornado near Hwy 412 in Delaware county. This small twister was on the ground for about 5 minutes.)

Comparisons are now drawn between the April 3-4, 1974 "Super Outbreak" and the April 27, 2011 Tornado Outbreak in the Southeast. I bring that up as 1974 was an awful year for tornadoes around the country and in Oklahoma.

That was the year that several tornadoes created damage paths in Tulsa. Brookside, ORU and the 71st and Memorial areas were struck by large tornadoes. Multiple fatalities occurred in Drumright when a long track F4 tornado carved a damage path though Creek and other counties.

Is this like 1974?

....

No weatherman knows exactly what will happen Tuesday. But we are confident that severe storms will form in central Oklahoma then head toward Tulsa and Green Country toward late afternoon and evening.

A rare "high risk" for severe weather will likely be issued for Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. A heightened Tornado Watch, called a "PDS Tornado Watch" is likely. PDS means Particularly Dangerous Situation. (the Southeast tornado outbreak on April 27 was a PDS day)

(ABOVE: Tag-Tag dog is storm ready! Earlier tonight, Wifey and I prepared an interior closet as our storm shelter for our Westies.)

So please be ready! It sounds redundant as we preach it often, but have a plan for your family.

Underground shelters and tornado safe rooms are the only 100% safe places in a large tornado. Bathrooms and closets and hallways are the next best.

Have your radio, TV and cell phone.

Dan, Andy and Julie will be on TV with the who, what, where and when. I'll be storm chasing. Hopefully on the 10pm news, I'm not standing in front of a tornado ravaged something.

We'll be watching for you-- Let's stay safe and get through Tuesday together.
George

"2 Walks for You" Walks in May

2011-05-04T11:02:00.005-05:00

(ABOVE: Doggies can bring their human friends at 2 Walks for You)

Come join Deana Silk and me as we walk for better health and fun!

"2 Walks for You"is a walking club meeting twice a month (first and third Saturday) at a park in the Tulsa area. For May, we are again meeting at River West Festival Park (west side of Arkansas River) at 11am. We'll walk for about an hour and cover about 3 miles. You will burn about 300 calories too!

(ABOVE: 2 Walks for You will begin and end at River West Park (the X) on the first and third Saturday this month, so we'll meet May 7 and May 21 at 11am.)

I started this walking club as I discovered it's more fun, easier and safer to exercise and walk with friends instead of doing it alone. I lost weight too. I dropped 25lbs last year by exercising every day and changing my diet-- cutting out fast food and my addiction to donuts!

If you want to enjoy our beautiful outdoors, breathe fresh air, and enjoy life then join us on Saturday. We walk WITH you.... that's 2 Walks for You :) George

(BELOW PICS: From last month. Deana Silk leads the group from River West Park. A few familys brought their children and "children".)

"Mission of Compassion"-- how you can help. :)

2011-05-03T15:43:00.006-05:00

(ABOVE: Jeff Smith's most recent "Mission of Compassion" was last month after the deadly tornado in Tuska, OK)

Jeff Smith's name might be familiar to you. If you have watched Channel 2's severe weather coverage then you've seen his storm chase video or heard his voice on KJRH. He's also a great friend of mine!

After the storm chase ends, Jeff does what he can to help out storm victims. He began "Mission of Compassion" a few years ago. This grass-roots effort provides direct relief to storm ravaged families. Jeff loads up his personal SUV and trailer and drives across the country to bring needed relief supplies. Everything comes from his own pocket and his church friends. Jeff is the Youth Director at New Life Baptist Church in Verdigris.

Jeff's next "Mission of Compassion" could be the biggest so far: he's heading to the tornado damaged Southeast. He leaves for Ringgold, GA on Friday, May 6. He sent me an email asking for help with bottled water, trash bags, Bibles, gloves, buckets, diapers, baby food/formula, handy-wipes and paper towels, first aid items and pet food. Toys too!

If you would like to donate, Jeff's trailer will be in front of Channel 2 on Thursday, May 5 from 11am to 6:30pm. Come on by and bring your supplies for the tornado victims! George

(BELOW: From previous missions. Jeff and friends unload in Picher, OK after an EF4 Tornado in 2008)

Please contact Jeff if you would like to help :) He's a great friend of mine, and he's all heart! George

Jeff Smith contact info:

phone: 918-808-4683.
email: stormrider1970@gmail.com
web: http://www.missionofcompassion.net

Lightning vs Tree

2011-05-01T11:12:00.011-05:00

(ABOVE: This used to be tree. Photo courtesy: Paul Orosco. BELOW: I stole this picture from the Internet as I couldn't find my own lightning photos... Anyway, this tree looks typical of a negatively charged lightning strike. A narrow stripe of bark is carved out.)

Trees struck by lightning rarely die from the actual lightning strike. The lightning usually doesn't penetrate the wood very well, and superficial bark wounds usually result. More than 90% of such strikes are of negative polarity.

Typically, the lightning strike resembles work done by a paint scraper. The tree looks like someone carved (as in the above stolen picture) out a thin stripe of bark. You can usually follow the lightning strike/missing bark trail from the top branches toward the base.

The lightning damage sometimes ends before reaching the ground. You might notice the bark channel stopping about 10 feet or so above the roots. If you see this, the lightning likely jumped to another object to finish its cloud to ground connection. This commonly occurs as lightning jumps from trees to homes or to metal fences, whatever conducts electricity more easily.

The tree usually survives the initial strike, but the now weakened tree is susceptible to bug infestation and disease.

As a second grader, I remember a 100 foot tall pine tree in our front yard in Orange, TX. The tree survived the lightning strike but died months later due to pine beetles.

(ABOVE: Paul Orosco took these pictures in Okmulgee. This could be the result of positive lightning. Either way, it's just as dead.)

About 2-5% of cloud to ground lightning strikes are positively charged, and they do much more damage.

Positive strikes are much hotter, last longer and carry much more electricity. House and forest fires are often caused by positive lightning. Tree also don't fare as well.

Aside from the one picture which I stole from somewhere, the tree pictures on this page are from 2NEWS viewer Paul Orosco. The properties of the tree and exact path of the lightning can obviously factor into how well the tree fares, but I'm guessing that Paul's pictures could be from a positively charged lightning strike.

And I'm fairly positive the tree is dead!

April 22/23, 2011: Tulsa hail and mammatus clouds

2011-04-24T12:13:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: My wife Shyla didn't have to storm chase to gather these. Yes, she ran out into our front yard during the storm to get them! The largest measures 2.2" wide.)

Tulsa county was battered by hail on consecutive days.

On Friday, April 22, 2011, golfball to tennis ball-sized hail beat up cars in south Tulsa county. The southern suburbs including Glenpool, Jenks, Bixby and Broken Arrow received the largest hail. Here's a bit more about the hail.

Soon afterward, mammatus clouds developed over Tulsa, a somewhat rare sight. Here is small article I wrote for KJRH regarding those clouds.

The following night on April 23, 2011, another hail storm developed in the Tulsa area. While the hail wasn't quite as large, quarter to golfball-size hail pelted cars and roofs through the middle of town. The storm formed near Kellyville, then tracked across west Tulsa, the Brookside area, Utica Square, the University of Tulsa and Tulsa International Airport. (I guess folks who unknowingly left their exposed cars in the airport parking lot may return to find hail divets in their hoods.)

Enjoy these pictures sent in by KJRH viewers! George

(ABOVE: A few baseball-sized hailstones fell in Bixby. BOTTOM: The Hall family found the largest hailstones in Bixby. These 3" hailstones are slightly larger than baseballs!)

(ABOVE: Richard Waters took this beautiful picture of the mammatus clouds over South Tulsa. You can see the City Plex Towers in the bottom right. BELOW: Janie Molloy Ledbetter had an amazing view of the mammatus clouds near Bristow. She wanted to me call them "mammary clouds" on TV... and I did.)

(BELOW: Most of the hail near Channel 2 was the size of quarters. But a few dense, golfball-sized hailstones like these damaged cars. Clay Holder photo.)

(BELOW: Storm chaser Paul Haines was chasing this Tornado Warned storm near Henryetta near sunset. If you see a cloud such as this one, which looks like a rotating space ship, then stay away! The last picture is what can happen if you don't stay away.... Tornado Warned storms can throw out huge hail away from the main precipitation core. The storm ejected baseball-size hail on to cars along Interstate 40, cracking his windshield.)

BOOOM!!! How to not make friends before sunrise

2011-04-24T11:29:00.004-05:00

This story was from last week. This note from KJRH Executive Producer Loren Cosby sums up "local flavor". Just one of those tight-lipped smiles and slow nods for this one.

Funny storm damage reports

2011-04-12T07:33:00.003-05:00

(ABOVE: I snapped a quick picture of the computer screen when I saw this come across. I guess smoking kills, right?!)

I really should start keeping track of the storm reports (LSRs) from the National Weather Service (NWS). Each office puts out a list of LSRs during and after severe weather events, and most of them usually don't stand out.

But occasionally you'll see local flavor.

From the past years, I remember a poorly worded LSR: "Mobile home destroyed. No significant damage". In Arkansas, I've seen "Lawnmower thrown into chicken house" and other stuff which provides a chuckle.

I'll try to post them in the future on my blog when I see them. Until then I'll be on the lookout for people (above picture)with cigarettes in case any more "smokers are tossed and destroyed by wind" ;)

George

Bicycling: "Beauty and the Beast" near Tyler, 2011

2011-03-28T00:03:00.016-05:00

(ABOVE: The beautiful pine trees of East Texas provide shade for much of the ride.)

"Beauty and the Beast" is an annual bicycle ride in Tyler, TX during late March. I signed up for the event last year, but I ended up missing it as I stayed in Tulsa to work during a big Spring snow storm.

I've wanted to do this ride for years as Tyler is my mother's family headquarters: I have two aunts, a cousin and their families living there. My grandparents enjoyed a beautiful home on well-known Cumberland Road. My Mother grew up near Tyler in the small town of London, TX. The community of Carlisle was renamed Price, TX for my great-grandfather J.M. Price. For the ride this year, I stayed with my Aunt Marcia and my Mother drove in from Orange to see me. :)

The weather this year was great for cycling: near 70 warming to low 80s by the end of the ride, not overly humid, and a south breeze of 15mph. Morning clouds helped too.

How was the ride? Awesome-- I was extremely impressed! The event appeared to be exceptionally well managed, especially for a smaller town ride.

Here are the details:

About 700 cyclists signed up to ride distances ranging from 22 to 67 miles. The course is rarely flat...lots of rollers. (Rollers are rolling hills offering gentle climbs and fun descents. Most cyclists love them!) It appeared that the 53 and 67 mile courses were most popular. I debated whether to ride the 67 miler, but my group of three cyclists chose the 53, so I stayed with them. I chose having fun rather than stretching my endurance!

The terrain varied from an elevation of 350ft to as high as about 550ft. The best part: the roads were smooth and free of debris: no rocks, sand or glass. I didn't see even a single pebble loose on the road as the course appeared to have been swept-- this was the cleaned course I have ever cycled. Very few folks had flats. Most surfaces were asphalt with minor road patches-- a very comfortable ride.

The well-marked course had lots of smiling volunteers. I was surprised to see that US Highway 69 was temporarily closed to allow us maximum safety. Traffic was reduced on the FM, county and state highways for the rest of the ride-- I never felt unsafe. Every major intersection had DPS (highway police officers) and volunteers making sure that regular auto traffic was cleared for bicycles.

Rest areas were located every 10 miles and offered shade, plenty of restrooms, snack fuel, water and sports drinks to keep you going.

And the ride was beautiful! The "beauty" lived up to its name with pine trees, wildflowers and scenic hills, farms and well-kept properties.

Regardless of which distance you choose to ride, the biggest hill (the "Beast") is during the last 5 miles. For experienced riders, the Beast isn't difficult. Some may choose to walk their bike up the 200 ft Beast which is near 0.25 miles long at 11% grade (according to my bike computer).

The ride ended a few miles later back where you started from at K.E. Bushman's Winery and Celebration Center. The huge, modern facility offered a festive indoor, upper scale atmosphere. A spaghetti and wine dinner greeted the finishers. Inside, they even provided towels for you to wipe your sweat after your ride!

Overall, I give "Beauty and the Beast" 4.5 out 5 stars. The only improvements I can think of: 1) Timer chips would be nice. It's fun to see how your time compares with other riders. 2) The ride ends without fanfare. Not that it's important, but some type of finish line, perhaps with a giant timer clock, would be cool.

If you are looking for smooth roads, curves, hills, trees, wildflowers along a safe route, you need to try "Beauty and the Beast"-- I'll be back next year! George

(BELOW: My Mother and I. She drove to Tyler to watch me ride. Yay!)

(ABOVE: Lots of friendly folks clustered at K.E. Bushman's Winery for the start. BELOW: I rode at about 90% of my capacity for the first hour of the ride. A respectable 19mph average.)

(ABOVE: This rest stop in Troup, TX provided a brief cool down. BELOW: You are rewarded with sunlit, wildflower covered fields when you pedal out from the pines.)

(ABOVE: With my sightseeing and the hills, my average speed dropped to 17.2mph. BELOW: Just before the "Beast", friendly folks cheer you along your way.)

(ABOVE: This is the biggest hill. The 1/4 mile climb of the Beast doesn't last very long, but it's a steep 11% grade according to my bike computer. I rode 6mph. BELOW: My average speed dipped to 16mph after the Beast. I sprinted at about 25mph for the last miles after the hill to get my average pace back to 17mph.)

NSU-BA: Awesome, quick bicycle ride

2011-03-24T16:29:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: The Creek Turnpike trail around Broken Arrow is a pleasant getaway. The cows agree!)

If you travel the length of the Riverside Trail; taking it south from downtown Tulsa along Riverside, then to the Creek Turnpike through South Tulsa, you will find yourself 26 miles later at NSU-Broken Arrow. This is where the trail ends... or begins.

The usually quiet, small NSU-BA bike parking lot fills with mostly cyclists near dinner time. Many folks enjoy parking here then riding the trail back toward Broken Arrow and Tulsa.

(BELOW: Here is the trail terminus at this parking lot just south of NSU-Broken Arrow. I like to start my ride here and pedal south then west around BA. A ride from NSU-BA to Olive and back is 12.6 miles according to my iPhone Cyclemeter app. )

The trail is a dream for cyclists: longish stretches of straight-aways and curves, rolling hills and a few abrupt 100 foot climbs. While cars and trucks zoom along the nearby Creek Turnpike, you are isolated with trees, open farmland and country creeks.

(ABOVE: Near the Creek Turnpike and Aspen. You can accelerate to 30mph going downhill. Wheeee!)

Compared to the Tulsa sections of trail, higher speeds are possible as bicycles outnumber joggers and walkers-- you don't worry about running over folks! The few intersections aren't a problem either.

If you are looking for a great place to ride that isn't crowded, is somewhat isolated, yet not far from town, then this route is for you. Try parking at NSU-BA, then ride to Olive and back. It's a 12 mile ride, and could make you fall in love with our Tulsa Parks trail system! George

(BELOW: To stay healthy, Ruben Castro says he got back on the bike after 25 years of not riding. Says he loves it and wishes he did it sooner!)

St. Patrick's Day Ride: Green and Henbit

2011-03-22T20:32:00.008-05:00

(ABOVE: Cyclists often wear bright colors anyway. St. Patrick's Day provides an excuse for me to wear green socks.)

St. Patrick's Day was celebrated as usual on March 17, and for 2011, I joined friends for a bicycle ride. A few folks wore Irish themed cycling jerseys. I contributed by wearing green socks!

(ABOVE: Mike Neal and Terry Englert show their St. Patrick's Day spirit with appropriate jerseys. BELOW: The green tires on my bike are always ready for March 17!)

I enjoy the rides for the conversation as much as the exercise, and sometimes a little education too. On the ride into the country, the usual wisecracking Mike Neal noted the small pink flowers blooming in the open fields. I've seen these flowers before, but I never thought much about them.

Visually, the pink is stunning. The flowers can really illuminate an otherwise bland field. The zillions of pink blooms appear clustered into a field of solid color in the distant horizon... really pretty!

Mike told me the flowers were Henbit. I learned these are weed flowers which bloom early in the Spring. Like most wildflowers, they lose their intense color and disappear when temperatures warm up toward Summer.

(ABOVE: I showed this on TV. A field of Henbit overtaking this farmland near Bixby. Beautiful!)

I stopped my bicycle to snap pictures of the Henbit. I showed the photos on the TV morning news, and a few viewers emailed saying "thanks" as they wondered what they were too.

Thanks Mike. Now we know!

(BELOW: I should have worn this green jersey on the St. Patrick's Day ride. Would have matched my socks AND tires! ;)

March 19, 2011: Hail and BBQ?

2011-03-20T10:22:00.008-05:00

(ABOVE: The Staab family in Bartlesville didn't let a hail storm prevent them from a cooking out.)

A few severe thunderstorms developed in the KJRH/Tulsa viewing area on the morning of March 19, 2011. Enjoy the "best of" pics emailed to weather@kjrh.com by our viewers. A few of these made me smile for the creativity!

(ABOVE: Sam Triebel received hailstones about 2" thick! From the Old Parker area, 3 miles east of Coffeyville, KS. I notified the NWS of this, and the NWS and SPC quickly conferenced. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued.)

(ABOVE: Nic Pranger in Bartlesville could keep drinks cold with Mother Nature's finest! He scooped up this mostly dime-size hail.

BELOW: The size of hail is best represented by taking its picture next to other objects-- but this was the first time I've seen "peppermint size" hail! Picture courtesy: Kim Jones)

(ABOVE: We of course want our viewers to be safe during the storms, so a quick snapshot out of the backdoor works great too. This pic from Vivian Frost of Coffeyville shows mostly "small" hail everywhere.

BELOW: Oh, what about the Staab family bbq? If you are wondering, the hail storm obviously didn't stop supper time! Here's the end result...)

Gracie dog :)

2011-03-13T21:41:00.005-05:00

(ABOVE: Gracie is a West Highland White Terrier, a "Westie". Vicious attack dog, eh?!)

I love my job! But one of the joys of getting off work is spending time with my family. Wifey took this picture of Gracie dog curled on top of her. Daddy can't wait to get home to see all of his girls!

Boston Terrier rescue on bike

2011-03-11T17:39:00.008-06:00

(ABOVE: I aborted my bike ride at mile 39 when Roxie dog wanted to play in traffic.)

The bicyclists vs barking dogs game is played nearly every ride into the country with my friends. Often, big barking dogs are left unleashed by their owners. The dogs then charge out of their yards to run, chase or attempt to eat us.

But sometimes a lost-looking doggie wants to join too. That's what happened today riding in Tulsa near the Creek Turnpike at Memorial Drive.

(ABOVE: This puppy finally caught up to me, but she didn't know what to do next!)

I crossed Memorial Drive as usual and pedaled eastward up a large hill toward Mingo. A small dog found me at the top of the hill. She barked and started chasing me... and chasing and chasing!

The "vicious" barking thing appeared harmless! I stopped to make friends with her. She was a puppy!-- a Boston Terrier with new looking teeth, probably 6 months to 12 months old. I scratched her head; she closed her eyes; then splatted into the grass for a tummy rub! Thankfully she had a collar with ID: "Roxie". I took out my cell phone and called the owner. The owner answered but told me she was 30 minutes away.

(ABOVE: She melted in my hand while getting a head rub.)

Roxie dog tried to run out into Mingo, but I got her off the street in time. She then bolted toward the highway! I left my bike on the ground, scooped her up and held her into her owner arrived. I had fun taking pics of us! Moral of the story: name tags for doggies work!

(ABOVE PICS: The owner came to the rescue in record time! In the middle picture, I guess that my nose must taste good...)

State Record: -31°... Coldest temperature in Oklahoma

2011-03-02T16:27:00.006-06:00

(ABOVE: Channel 2 photographer Thomas Berger and I visit the location where a record -31° was measured.)

Click HERE for the video on KJRH.

During the first two weeks of February 2011, nearly every major snow and all-time low temperature records were broken.

In addition to record lows and highs being set within a week, the following records fell in Tulsa: Most snow in 24 hours (14.0") , most snow in one month (22.5") , most snow in one season (26.1") . A new state record was also set for most snow in 24 hours: 27" near Spavinaw.

(ABOVE: Meteorologist Phil Browder chats with me about the all-time state record. Phil used to work in TV before he got smart and earned a job with OCS.)

The snow slowly evaporated, and the evaporational cooling helped create record cold conditions in Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma. With the snow piled high, Tulsa dropped to -12° on the morning of February 9, 2011-- that's the coldest in Tulsa in 80 years. The long-standing state record of -27° was shattered too, as the temperature plunged to -31° near Nowata. The temperatures in Pryor and Bartlesville dropped to -30° and -28°. This area experienced unrivaled cold after a narrow swath of 15-25" of snow fell north and northeast of Tulsa.

(ABOVE: The old thermometer was removed for testing and a new thermometer is installed)

To verify the new records, weather officials (Oklahoma Climate Survey) maintaining the Oklahoma Mesonet traveled to Nowata. (Click here for the video) I witnessed history: we met up with the crew at the exact location where the record -31° occurred. It felt awesome to stand on that snow-covered farm as OCS removed and swapped out the record measuring thermometer.
(I took this picture at River West Park in Tulsa on March 2, 2011. More than three weeks after the blizzard, this 10 feet high pile of snow remains! The city dumped snow here when clearing streets.)

2010... and 1980: First Snow

2011-01-17T08:54:00.005-06:00

(ABOVE: My first snow! That's me at home in Orange, TX in 1980. I had never seen this picture until Mother found it in a drawer recently. This was the first time I ever saw snow. My smile proves it!)

Snow isn't unusual in eastern Oklahoma, but the first snow of the season seems to be a big deal. Lots of memories are made, especially for the kids!

I grew up in Orange, TX, and any snow was unusual and a big deal. On average, measurable snow is observed about once every 10 years along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast.

Every single kid in Orange remembers the snow of 1980. The snow fell during the night on Friday, and kids woke up early Saturday morning to white stuff in the yard. Probably 1'-2" fell. It was enough snow to build my first snowman in the front yard! (Frosty melted the next day...)

The Tulsa area averages 9" of snow a year, and the 1" of snow which fell last week wasn't quite enough to make a snowman, but it probably provided smile to the kids. Maybe their parents too!

(ABOVE: My camera dude Kyle is stoked. He's excited for my live shot in the light snow)

(ABOVE: 1" of snow fell at our house. The snow was a bit powdery and 100% beautiful)

January 9-10 Snow: Fun Viewer Pictures

2011-01-11T11:45:00.007-06:00

These are a few of the pics shared by KJRH viewers. These really made me smile!

(ABOVE: Jada Pingleton from Hartshorne and her cat Marley. And a hula snow girl!)

(ABOVE: Eddie and Rhonda Boback near Claremore show us that their puppies love the snow. )

(ABOVE: Joyce McCoy sent in this picture of her grand daughter. This is Maybree Moore of Warner and her tiny snowman. Cute!)

(ABOVE: I smile when Carolyn Canida sends us pictures of her West Highland White Terrier. "Stuart" was a foster dog of ours.)

(ABOVE: and this is Carolyn's snow mouse! There wasn't enough snow to make a snow man.)

(ABOVE: Blake Cates saw this parked near KJRH. His caption, "Don't let your dog drive in the snow.")

Snow-- so what's REALLY gonna happen?

2011-01-09T11:24:00.005-06:00

(ABOVE: "So, is it really gonna snow on Monday?!" )

This makes me laugh when I hear this. Our weather staff is often asked what we "really think" will happen with the weather just after finishing a newscast.

So, I'm including an email. This is what I sent to KJRH employees after the 9am Sunday "2NEWS Weekend Mornings" newscast. Hopefully this closely resembles what actually came out of my mouth on TV!

email: "The first snow of the season is on the way. For today, light snow and flurries are possible in Tulsa and our viewing area. No accumulation expected. Most folks won’t receive any measurable snow today. Monday is our snow day. 1-3" totals are likely in our viewing area including Tulsa. As I type this Tulsa is not under any weather advisories, but am guessing that a "Winter Weather Advisory" will be issued for Monday.

Light snow is possible as early as sunrise on Monday, but most of the snow will fall during the afternoon and evening. Snow gradually ending toward and after midnight. Enjoy!

What could be bigger story is the cold. We will likely stay below freezing for over 100 straight hours!! Highs temperautures in the 20s and low 30s are expected thru Thursday.

Working for you,

George"

note: you can always check kjrh.com for the latest forecast. :)

Lunar Eclipse: KJRH viewer pics from December 21, 2010

2010-12-23T08:33:00.010-06:00

NOTE: Click on all these pictures for larger, higher resolution images. The moon looks cool!

(ABOVE: Wow, just wow! Click on the picture for the high resolution details. Gerald Miller from Muskogee generously shared this picture of the moon during the lunar eclipse.)

My wife and I woke up at 2am on December 21 to view the lunar eclipse from our front yard. Looking straight up, the moon appeared as an orange dot nearly overhead. This was the first lunar eclipse on the Winter solstice in 456 years! A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is perfectly aligned between the sun and the moon causing Earth to cast a shadow on the moon.

These pictures from KJRH viewers are what you missed if you slept.

(ABOVE: The beautiful mosaic was compiled by Mr. Miller. He took pictures every 10 minutes from 11:34pm to 4:01am)

(BELOW: Lonnie Iannazzo shows the stages of the eclipse. The orange tint on the moon is thought to be from the reflection of the sun's rays off of Earth.)

(BELOW: The full moon returned to "normal" as shown in this beautiful picture from Alison Stone of Bixby.)

November Images

2010-12-01T08:58:00.007-06:00

Enjoy these pictures from our viewers and KJRH from November 2010. Enjoy!

The Sandhill Cranes against the November 9 sunset at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in north central Oklahoma.

Paul Orosco grabbed his camera after hearing of a bald eagle enjoying a fall morning near Okmulgee.

The Sutton kids think that the background tree looks like a turkey! (or maybe a squirrel?) Credit the 2007 ice storm for the tree's unusual shape.

The Smith family says that their 6 year old Wesley the Bullmastiff patiently enjoys the Fall weather.

Virginia Craig from Jay took this picture of the pelicans at Grand Lake. The water ripples add a nice effect.

From KJRH. Safaris Sanctuary in Broken Arrow brought a joey for the 11am Midday news! Julie Chin and I pet the baby kangaroo.

That's me driving StormChaser 2 in the Claremore Veterans Day parade.

This was fun! The school children literally line the streets of downtown Claremore to honor Veterans Day.

Deana Silk, my KJRH 2NEWS Weekend Morning co-anchor is popular with the kids!

Snake in our house... so grab the blower?!

2010-11-24T23:57:00.017-06:00

(ABOVE: A huge rat snake climbs the gutter of our house. Where is Mr. Snake going?! )

....

It's not in my heart to kill a snake, but I also don't care for one to slither near our house!

I was quite surprised this past Sunday to find a huge snake sunning itself on the back porch. Snakes enjoy warmer weather, and the late afternoon sunshine provided cozy warmth-- up against our door! The dogs immediately spotted the creature and barked like crazy. Mr. Snake retreated and coiled behind the grill. I quickly got the dogs inside then wondered what to do next!

(BELOW: Josie and my leg. Our Westies alerted us of the snake in the backyard.)

After the dogs disappeared inside, Mr. Snake didn't waste time making a getaway. He quickly uncoiled from behind the barbecue grill and slithered along the side of the house.

(BELOW: The snake retreats behind the grill. Time to put on my snake catching boots!)

The snake unraveled to more than 3 feet long! I thought my new friend was leaving the yard when he changed directions and went straight up the house!

Mr. Snake curled around the rain gutter and slithered toward the roof. He found a small crack in the foundation, poked his head in and entered the house. The snake got in!!! Mr. Snake squeezed in between the top of the bricks and the roof. Wifey wasn't pleased!

(BELOW: The snake slithers up the rain gutter and disappeared into the house. A thin crack exists between bricks and roof. Apparently the small crack is big enough for a snake to live!)

The snake couldn't go anywhere from there as he trapped himself between the drywall and bricks. Unless he burrowed through drywall and wood he was trapped and couldn't get into the bedrooms. But we still wanted him gone!

(BELOW: John used a hair drier! He tried heating up the snake's hidey hole to force him out.)

Not knowing what to do next, Wifey called our friend John the snake expert. John rushed over with his snake catching tools. He tried several methods to get the the critter out, but Mr. Snake was too far back. We called it a night. Wifey didn't sleep to well that night!

(BELOW: Sure, why not try a leaf blower too! Not sure how to react if the snake blew out of the house...)

The next day temperatures warmed into the upper 70s. I frequently checked the backyard, but I couldn't find any signs of the snake. Maybe and hopefully he slithered away. Either way I sealed the crack in the bricks. The snake will never get back inside-- or he's trapped inside the bricks forever!

(BELOW: I sealed the crack above the bricks. If we smell dead snake soon then we know where he is...)

Oops.... Bad Parking

2010-11-16T16:20:00.012-06:00

(ABOVE: someone parked their Chevy in a bad spot. The tire is sitting on cables from a Channel 2 news truck.)

Long and weird hours are the norm working in TV. And sometimes our work days get longer due to the unexpected. On Election Day, Channel 2 photographer John Guthery parked the news truck as normal, and he stretched cables across the parking lot from the truck to the TV camera for a live shot.

Someone parked their SUV on the cables! John had to remain late after the live shot until the owner showed up to drive away. (I bet that was a fun chat!) You can't exactly leave a hundred thousand dollar live truck behind or cut the cables. John politely waited it out.

Catching up... April 21, 2010 Storm Chase

2010-11-04T11:56:00.003-05:00

(ABOVE: We didn't run into any memorable storms on 4/21/2010, but a pheasant ran into us.)

I haven't posted on flickingerweather.com as much since I've been using Facebook , so I'm getting caught up writing up chase days.

Here are a few pics from April 21, 2010. The storms which formed that day developed away from our chase target, so a poor pheasant became the most memorable part of the trip.

While driving highway speeds, the bird flew across the road and directly into the front of our vehicle. :(

http://www.flickingerweather.com/042110.html

Forecast: Brown Grass

2010-11-03T11:21:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: My view walking through Ray Harrell park. Our Fall leaves aren't quite as vivid this year due to the prolonged dry weather.)

Your backyard usually turns brown this time of year as the daylight gradually disappears. But the lack of rain isn't helping. Some of our viewers are telling us of big cracks in their yards!

Our yearly rainfall is 15-25% below average across eastern Oklahoma. This Fall has been especially dry. Widespread heavy rain is not expected anytime soon.

The long range outlook appears drier than norm for the rest of the Fall.

(BELOW: This is a drought map. The soil moisture is quite low, especially in southeastern OK. Each windy, low humidity day will bring the entire state a high fire danger. )

(BELOW: Precipitation outlook for Fall through early Winter. More dry weather is expected from Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast.)

Awesome and fun pics from KJRH viewers

2010-10-25T23:53:00.010-05:00

(ABOVE: Beautiful! Here's the view of downtown Tulsa on a foggy morning as photographed by Stephanie Farris from St. John Medical Center.)

We receive lots of awesome pictures from our viewers. Our weather staff looks at all of them, and we show a bunch of them on the news. In addition to beautiful landscapes and weather pics as seen above I like to show pics that make you smile! See below.... Here's a few from the past week:

(BELOW:Lana says that this fox is a "frequent visitor" in Claremore!)

(BELOW: Paul Orosco wonders if Tiger Woods has this same problem?)

(ABOVE: Karla Fitzgerald took a picture of a cute little tree frog when....)
(BELOW: ... the frog wanted to meet Karla!!)

Thanks for watching and keep 'em coming! Send your pictures to weather@kjrh.com

Zzzzzzz.... at work. Oops!

2010-09-06T07:50:00.005-05:00

(Sometimes I sneak in a nap at work in the weather office. Especially during "Employee of the Month" meetings...)

I squirm in meetings-- I skip them when I can get away with it.

KJRH management called a boring meeting last Thursday morning, but I had more important things to do: sleep at work. So I avoided the meeting and turned out the lights in the weather office for a nap. I wanted to sleep between the morning and midday news. As I got to work that day at 3am while going to bed the night before at midnight, I thought I could splat on the couch for about 30 minutes.

My boss called my cell phone. I pretended to be awake when I answered. He needed me to attend the stupid meeting. So wearing the street clothes which I had changed in to for my nap: shirt, shorts and no socks or shoes, I walked into the meeting barefoot.

The meeting? Julie Chin and I won for August as voted on by our co-workers. Here is my "Employee of the Month" trophy.

So-- I basically was trying to sleep through my own meeting...makes for a good story! :)

(BELOW: My mother will make a bigger deal about the EOM award than I ever will. So Mom, this pic is for you!)

Remembering Kyle Foulks 1935-2010

2010-07-21T20:51:00.019-05:00

(ABOVE: From 2008. Julie Chin, Kyle Foulks and myself at Cleveland HS. Mr. Foulks lobbied for KJRH to present a Weather Safety Tour show in his hometown. It worked! We broadcast from Cleveland, OK. )

The KJRH weather team recently lost a weather photographer. I lost a friend.

75 year old Kyle Foulks died this month in Cleveland, OK. You might remember his name as we showed his weather pictures on TV. I well remember one of his last from this past Winter: an icy image of the Arkansas River. The river froze near Cleveland!

Kyle and I got to know each other over the years, and we discovered that we both loved bicycling. After his career in the US Navy, he worked with racing bicycles in California. He spoke of riding his bike to work-- I can imagine him cruising the beach in style!

After his military funeral, his widow and son John invited me to dinner and her house. I actually hadn't met her before, but we hugged like we knew each other! She told me that I was among Kyle's favorite meteorologists, and the family wanted to give me something of his.

Beyond flattered, and my eyes full of water from the funeral, I followed them to the home. The Foulks home is beautiful house overlooking the country side on the edge of Cleveland. An American flag hung on a pole in the front yard.

Walking up their driveway, the widow and oldest son told me that Kyle had a wish. He had something that he wanted to give me. I certainly wasn't expecting anything fancy--maybe some of his favorite weather pictures or such! I was shocked and speechless as I followed them into their garage.

(ABOVE: At the family's request, I followed them to their home after the funeral. They presented me Kyle's custom bicycle.)

Kyle's Cannondale cruiser bicycle was parked in front of me. (Its price would rival that of a used car.) My eyes teared up when John started talking-- I realized what was happening. I knew what Kyle wanted. (My eyes are watering as I type this!)

John said that his father wanted to "fix up his bike and present it to George." Kyle planned on bringing the bike to KJRH before he died, but his health denied him. So the family honored his wish and presented me his bike.

This is the probably the biggest honor and most emotional moment from a viewer and friend in my 15 year TV career. Kyle got his wish... I hear his voice. Thank you.

West Tulsa: Home of World's Largest Cactus

2010-07-09T14:31:00.018-05:00

Ok, so it may not be the world's largest, but this Agave Cactus is probably the tallest in this part of the country!

Here's the story: The Applebee family of West Tulsa bought a small cactus about 20 years ago.

They were travelling through Arizona, and wanted a small, desert plant. They purchased a tiny cactus, and the salesmen told them it would be a nice plant for the back porch.

But the cactus had other ideas! It outgrew all the pots and finally needed to be replanted in the backyard. Mr. George Applebee kept the cactus alive during the Winter by installing heaters around it.

(LEFT: The cactus leaves are about 8 feet tall. The single stalk really does resemble asparagus!)

For years the cactus looked simply like a thorny, leafy garden fern.

Then this Spring, a single stalk sprouted straight upward. It grew at a rate of one foot per day for 3 weeks!

Legend has it that the asparagus-like looking stalk grows once every 100 years. This stalk then blooms. The leafy blooms contain the seedlings for future generations of new plants. The parent cactus then dies.

The Applebee family contacted KJRH to tell us their story. This wouldn't make the headlines of the evening news, but I thought it worthy of TV time. So I grabbed the video camera myself and shot a one minute story.

One month after the story aired on KJRH, I rode my bicycle to their home. The plant is now blooming as the cactus leaves slowly wither.

Mrs. Applebee (who told me she is 82 years old) chuckled to me, "At our age, we're glad to see it's blooming now!"

(RIGHT: a 6 foot tall Weatherman bicycled out to visit the 30 foot tall bloom. This picture was taken one month after the top two pictures.)

Small town sarcasm in Hectorville

2010-07-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Small town humor. Apparently, the county tore up the paved road and never rebuilt it. The locals aren't amused...)

Hectorville is a tiny town about 20 miles south of Tulsa. Most Oklahomans haven't visited or vacationed there. In fact you may never have heard of it as the state feels that Hectorville isn't worthy of a highway.

Apparently it isn't worthy of paved county roads either. The unofficial Hectorville sign pictured above was erected by frustrated local residents. Okmulgee county officials tore up the old paved road so that an improved road could be built.

But it hasn't happened. A dusty, gravel and dirt road replaced the asphalt surface on the Okmulgee county side of the community. Cyclists normally ride into Hectorville from the north, usually from the Bixby/Jenks/South Tulsa area. Those roads are paved.

For us, the sign provides a chuckle and smile!

(ABOVE: I stole this map from the KJRH Vipir 2 database... Can you find Hectorville?)

(BELOW: The bicycling community appreciates Hectorville. Its air conditioned country store provides a popular stop during the heat.

from Grove, OK: a "League of Their Own"

2010-07-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Local resident Gina "Chirpey" Casey and her sister Alice played professional baseball in the 1940s.)

Grove, OK is probably best known for being a home for Grand Lake and the Cherokee Queen. It's also the home of Gina "Chirpey" Casey. I met her when I recently spoke to the Hospital Auxiliary at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

"Chirpey" and her sister played professional women's baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s. The well-known movie, "A League of their Own" starring Gena Davis and Rosie O'Donnell was based on their story.

"Chirpey" was quite chirpy! She easily spoke about her interesting baseball career. Today, she remains an associate member of the All-American Girls Pro Baseball League. She also gave me the baseball cards you see here. They are autographed!

(BELOW: Here's the back of the baseball cards. Hometown of Grove, OK is listed.)

Cheapest Fill Up?

2010-06-25T18:24:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: I took this picture today. It appears someone really did purchase only enough gasoline to mow part of their patio yard.)

Cash or Credit?!

I gassed up the car today, and this is what I saw when I stopped to refuel. This transaction was on the pump from the customer before me.

I know we've all put in just a few dollars worth before, but only 35 cents of gas? Really? Is that worth stopping?

Let's see, basic math here: if the driver gets 20mpg, then he can now drive 2.72 miles from the purchase of 0.136 gallons of gasoline. That should be good enough to make it to the next gas station up the street.

Looking good for TV

2010-06-22T23:41:00.001-05:00

(ABOVE: This is what I saw looking straight down as I got ready for the Sunday 10pm news.)

Hey, they match my black suit pants! Funny thing: our Sunday news anchor guy, Jason Grubbs, was also wearing flip flops! There's a reason you only see us from the waist up...

Father's Day

2010-06-20T20:38:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: My father in Orange, TX from 1980. Dad was my baseball coach. I didn't realize until years later that he didn't know much about baseball. But he guided our team anyway.)

I dreaded Father's Day after my father died. He died of prostate cancer. His outlook was good when we was diagnosed at age 58. The doctors told him that he was at Stage 2 which is 95% survivable.

He had surgeries and various treatments to remove the cancer, and we thought he beat it. But the cancer came back a few years later and quickly took his life. I wasn't expecting his death-- my mother phone called before sunrise on a Sunday morning with the news. If the phone rings before 6am, it's usually not good. Dad was a 5% victim.

Dad was my hero. I wanted to be like my Father. Dad would have been my best man in my wedding. Stupid cancer...

I now use Father's Day to reflect on my wonderful childhood and his leadership. I still shed tears too. In fact just typing this made my eyes water.

Bathing dogs is stupid.

2010-06-18T21:33:00.001-05:00

(ABOVE: Tag-Tag dog a few hours after his Daddy gave him a bath.)

After Tag-Tag dug up the backyard, I have him a bath. Here's how responded his first time back outside.

Remembering Chloe Dog

2010-06-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Chief Meteorologist Dan Threlkeld and me with Michelle Lowry's daughter Chloe.)

KJRH is a dog friendly work place. I don't know what the exact rules are, but I think our bosses sometimes look the other way when folks bring their pets to work. For many of us, our pets are our children.

As you can see, I got kisses from Chloe dog when she visited the TV station last year. Chloe's mother is Michelle Lowry. Chloe died earlier this week after she got out of her yard. She was 17 years old.

Chloe, thank you for the kisses. We love you and miss you.

Channel 2 Softball Team: No one compares...

2010-06-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Our team plays in a co-ed league on Sunday Nights at All-Star Sports Complex.)

No reason to embarrass anyone here. It's obvious which score belongs to the Channel 2 softball team.

There's no one that plays quite like we do.

Our level of play is unmatched by any other team.

The score says it all.

"Healthy" eating at KJRH?

2010-06-15T05:40:00.000-05:00

Remember the good ole days when things like apples, oranges and grapes were considered to be good for you? I was taught that fruit and veggies were healthy foods while chips were not.

Apparently, chips and fruit snacks are now considered nutritious and healthy. Notice the yellow "fit pick" sticker on the vending machine at work. *sigh*

Lonely rainy nights at the TV station

2010-06-14T07:45:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: at 3:04am, this is my view in the dark TV studio. A weatherman, a radar and a camera.)

"Why do you get to work so early?" is common question that Julie Chin and me get from viewers.

I normally get to work near 3:15am on "quiet" mornings. Today I arrived at Channel 2 just before 1:30am as ongoing thunderstorms means longer hours. (It doesn't help when you stay up late the night before playing on the KJRH softball team. I'm working on ZERO hours of sleep!) I relieved Andy Wallace who stayed late after the 10pm news. Anytime there's stormy weather on the radar you'll find at least one meteorologist here.

The weather center is lonely in the middle of the night as most of the news folks don't begin showing up until 4am. But I'm too busy to get lonely!

I first update the forecast on kjrh.com. The process of making a forecast then takes me 45 minutes to an hour depending on the weather pattern. Then we make all of our own graphics for the 2 hour newscast. Everything has to be ready for air by 4:30am when we record a weathercast for "WeatherPlus" on Channel 222. The rest of our weathercasts are all live.

After 1pm when my shift ends I'm gonna go home and sleep all day!

(BELOW: The 49 cent drinks from QT are appreciated to keep a weatherman going. Diet Mountain Dew!)

Bicycle Wedding Cake

2010-06-12T21:49:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: I took this picture today with my cell phone. It's the rare bicycle cake. It tasted better than chain degreaser!)

Today I attended the wedding of Chris Cordt and Jessica Chapman at Boston Avenue First United Methodist Church.

Chris is a long-time friend and employee of KJRH. Last year I cycled with him in the Tulsa Tough and Hotter N Hell in Wichita Falls.

Here's his groom's cake! Congrats Chris and Jess!

Texas A&M headed to: Big 10, Pac 10 and SEC!

2010-06-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: This is our view of Kyle Field from our seats. We sit in the north end zone. We'll wave so that you can see us on TV!)

No one appears to know anything right now.

But it is certain that the Big 12 will be no longer exist in its current form. My family is anxiously awaiting realignment news like everyone else.

College football is my favorite sport. We still hold on to our Texas A&M season tickets though we don't get to attend many games. Mom makes several home games a year, she loves it!

My family is well-rooted in the current Big 12 South: I attended Texas A&M from 1991 to 1996. My Mother graduated from Baylor. Other family members hold degrees from Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech. A few of my old professors now work in the meteorology department at OU. I at least hope to stay in the same conference with those schools.

I liked the Big 12, but like everyone else now wonders what next?

Facial Hair and TV

2010-06-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Paul Orosco took this picture of me with his dog Mattie one year ago. Mattie is giving my beard kisses!)

My vacation time is ending soon as I return to work for Saturday "2NEWS Weekend Mornings". Actually, I'll go into work Friday as I have to write, graphic submit and voice a mini-package for the weekend show, but Saturday is my first regular workday back.

I don't shave when I'm on vacation. As I'm one of those guys who can grow a beard in about 30 minutes, I enjoy not shaving when possible!

Last year I sprouted a beard on TV. I didn't shave due to facial stitches, so I had a nice scruff after one month. Was amazing how many interesting comments I received from viewers-- you don't see many news people with beards!

Time to shave... Summon the Gillette multi pack.

Sinus infections are stupid.

2010-06-09T20:12:00.001-05:00

(ABOVE: As of 8pm tonight a light fever developed again. I feel mostly ok though.)

Shyla sent me to the doctor one week ago due to allergy problems. This is the first Spring I've suffered anything other than minor sinus issues.

He prescribed stronger medication to reduce sinus drainage, and another something to kill the infection. I thought I was better a few days later for Tulsa Tough but instead had to drop out.

I've been down for 7 days now during what happened to be my scheduled vacation. Shyla and I hoped to travel, and do some storm chasing in the Plains. I also wanted to ride my bicycle a zillion miles and finally finish major house projects.

Need more sleep, more Wifey, Westies and I hope to return to work Saturday. I'll be fine. I'm just annoyed at being down!

40mph from "Bike Cam" in Tulsa Tough

2010-06-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

(ABOVE: Video image from my handlebars. The "BikeCam" in downtown Tulsa.)

Enjoy! This is my view of the Tulsa Tough Saturday ride. I cycled 24 miles before I got sick and dropped out. This is the first time I didn't complete the 100k course.

To shoot this video I installed a small digital camera on my bicycle. The $100 camera did well on 640x480 movie mode at 30fps.

After beginning slowly in downtown Tulsa, we accelerated to 40mph through the country. I think the 2:00 minute mark of this video is quite thrilling!

I also uploaded this video to YouTube as I'm learning howing to blog.

Thatcher: Whoa Muddy Boy!

2010-06-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

I haven't been able to do much while I've been ill. But I do have enough strength to tell Thatcher dog, "No!" You are not getting on the furniture!

I held him back from charging into the living room. Parts of the backyard remained damp from Monday's 1.00" rain. He likes to make doggie mud pies!

June 5, 2010: Dropped out of Tulsa Tough. Had fun anyway!

2010-06-08T01:09:00.001-05:00

(ABOVE: My friend Liam Overbaugh helps me with helmet during last year's Tulsa Tough.)

The Tulsa Tough (TT) is my cycling highlight of the year. It's an awesome feeling to watch the pros race NASCAR style through downtown Tulsa. Regular folks too can compete in distance rides.

(RIGHT: The pros are a blur at night. Speeds can reach over 35mph)

I ride the 100k events, and I think of it as "competing in non-competitive categories" if that makes sense. By definition the rides aren't races, but some folks (myself very much included!) want to perform well. I like to see how my time matches against my friends and other cyclists.

But before the TT rides began, I had two complaints. Most riders seem to not like two changes this year:

Change #1: the rides began one hour later. A 9am start this year means more riding in hotter temperatures.

Change #2: No ankles timers! How are we supposed to know how well we did against other riders if we're not wearing timer chips?!

Hopefully these two issues will be addressed in the future TT events as it's otherwise a first class event. I wrote a polite complaint letter to TT officials regarding these issues.

For the Saturday 9am 100k ride, I lined up with Chris and Stephanie Galuppo. The athletic Galuppos look like Mr. and Mrs. Universe in their cycling outfits! They rode the 100 mile event that day.

The 9am Saturday ride started on time. I felt fine at first. My snazzy blue jersey looked good, but my health wasn't: two days earlier, Wifey made me go to the doctor's office with an allergy/ sinus issue. My stupid trip to the doctor's office wasn't a big deal. I thought I was feeling better by ride time that Saturday. Instead it took only a few miles for me to know I wouldn't finish.

Near mile 5 we climbed a 100 foot tall hill. A climb like that isn't a big deal for a well-seasoned biker. But on this day, it marked the beginning of the end of my ride. I couldn't recover as I had trouble regaining my breathe. I gasped for air the next few miles and couldn't get my usual breathing rhythm back.

I fell behind Chris and Steph. Their pack accelerated to a 20mph pace, and I quickly disappeared from the scene. I couldn't even do 15mph. My legs weighed a thousand pounds.

I kept slowing down, pedalling only about 12mph. I didn't feel good so I stopped at mile 14 for a water break. Near mile 16 I dropped off the 100k course, turning back toward Tulsa. I thought I would end up riding the 50k course, but I couldn't manage that either.

My quick rests became splats in the grass. More stops: mile 16, mile 18, 19. I walked the bike up hills. A friendly voice, Cathy from Lee's Bicycles stopped to chat with me and offer support. I probably looked hopeless walking beside a bicycle!

After another stop or two I reached the mile 24 rest stop. Normally, I wouldn't stop until about mile 40 or so, but I was sick. I told the race officials that I was done. They towed my bike and me back to home base. George Flickinger= DNF.

I was really really disappointed, but didn't know that I was that ill at the time. Two nights later my fever swelled to near 102. Stupid sinus infection! The illness took about 5-6 days out of me. I didn't even attempt the Sunday 100k ride.

....

Overall, Tulsa Tough 2010 was awesome. I didn't finish the ride, but so what?! Shyla and I had a blast with our friends at the events including the pro races.

Though I couldn't finish my ride, Chris and Stephanie did survive. They reached the finish line together after hours of riding on that 90 something degree day.

The Galuppos completed the 100 mile ride and have sunburns to prove it. That's Tulsa Tough!

(TOP to BOTTOM: Stephanie and Shyla Flickinger are "VIPs" at Lee's Bicycles watching the Friday Night crits. Stephanie is all smiles after riding 100 miles as Chris cools in the kiddie pool behind her. Ouch! Look at that sunburn where Chris didn't use sunscreen.)