Dr. Cindy Ross: The Wakita Effect - OKIE Magazine

Southwest Oklahoma’s Monthly News and Entertainment Magazine
February
2011
FREE
Cameron University President
Dr. Cindy Ross:
Th e Wakita Eff ect
Small Town Values
Lead to Big Changes
Paint the Town Black and Gold
Cameron Aggie Spirit & Pride on the Rise
INSIDE: Beth Sanchez: Cake Artisan • Mortimor • Much More!

MAGAZINE
Vol. 4, Issue 3 — February 2011
OKIE MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 7953
Lawton, Oklahoma 73506
Phone 580.536.9500
Email info@okiemagazine.com
Web www.okiemagazine.com
PUBLISHERS
Indie Michaels
Chuck Morgan
MANAGING EDITOR
Indie Michaels
editor@okiemagazine.com
COPY EDITOR
Angela Schertle
Dr. Christopher O. Keller
ADVERTISING SALES
sales@okiemagazine.com
DESIGN TEAM
Kate Catlin
Indie Michaels
Justin Williamson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Anna Roberts Freeze Frame Photography
Audie Clark
Event Photographer
READ OKIE MAGAZINE ONLINE AT
OKIEMAGAZINE.COM
STAFF WRITERS
Jeremy Bigelow
J. Craig
Jim Joplin
Teri McGrath
Jody Meier
Amy Merchant
Solitaire Merrill
Tina Nickell
Levi Pennington
Randy Pennington
Rachel Rhoades
Aaron Rudolph
Anika Sa
Angela Schertle
Becky Smith-Gallops
VISIT US ON THE WEB:
FACEBOOK.COM/OKIEMAGAZINE
MYSPACE.COM/READOKIE
TWITTER.COM/OKIEMAGAZINE
FEEDBACK? COMMENTS?
PRESS RELEASES?
SUBMIT THEM TO
editor@okiemagazine.com
CONTENTS
CAMERON UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT DR. CINDY ROSS:
THE WAKITA EFFECT SMALL TOWN
VALUES LEAD TO BIG CHANGES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE 5
PAINT THE TOWN BLACK
AND GOLD CAMERON AGGIE
SPIRIT & PRIDE ON THE RISE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE 8
BETH SANCHEZ:
CAKE ARTISAN
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 9
MUSEUM OF THE GREAT
PLAINS: RACE AND IDENTITY
OF THE LAWTONFORT
SILL COMMUNITY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 26
PROUD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBER
OKIE MAGAZINE is published and distributed monthly as a community service by Diverse Press,
Inc. Opinions expressed by columnists, advertisers or the Letters to the Editor are not necessarily
the opinion of Okie Magazine, its sta , the publisher or its advertisers. Okie Magazine reserves
the right to edit the Letters to the Editor to conform to Okie Magazine format without changing the
meaning of the letter. All Letters to the Editor must be signed and have a phone number so that the
paper may con rm it’s content. Content of advertisements is the sole responsibility of the advertiser.
The publisher of Okie Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising materials for any reason
whatsoever. Okie Magazine is available on the world wide web at http://www.okiemagazine.com.
Limit one copy per person; additional copies may be obtained at the Okie Magazine o ce. Okie
Magazine is in no way connected with the United States Army. The appearance of advertising in this
publication does not constitute the endorsement of by the DOD, or the Department of Army, of the
Okie Magazine or the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall
be made available to purchaser, user or patronage.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 3

OKIE Magazine is YOUR
community publication.
Submit your press releases
and/or group events to:
editor@okiemangazine.com.
Visit us on Twitter
twitter.com/
okiemagazine
STAMPEDE
Stampede is full service marketing, advertising,
design, and public relations firm serving a
regional and national client base.
From online to offl ine —
web
social networking
print
video
broadcasting
and multimedia
Strategy. Branding. Creative execution.
Stampede.
Let us help you find the unique marketing mix
that helps your small to midsized business grow.
580.919.5339
Page 4 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Cameron University President
DR. CINDY ROSS: THE WAKITA EFFECT
Small Town Values Lead to Big Changes
The campus of Cameron Junior College was alive
with activity in 1950. On a typical day, the Hell Hounds
would practice their routines for the upcoming pep
rally, students would move to and from the recently
constructed classroom buildings, and the new ROTC unit
would assemble and practice their maneuvers. Cameron
President C. Vernon Howell had been a successful
legislator, farmer, businessman and Navy veteran, before
taking on the role of CU’s President in 1947.
Howell likely believed Cameron was a great
junior college, and despite the improvements he was
instrumental in making, he probably hoped the best was
yet to come. He may have wondered at times during his
presidency, “What will Cameron be like 50 to 60 years
from now?”
Little did he know that during the early years of his
presidency, in the small town of Wakita, Oklahoma a
young girl who would come to share a great passion and
dynamic vision for Cameron and lead it into its second
plwatson45906@sradvisors.com
century was just starting her life.
Dr. Cynthia S. (Cindy) Ross was one of three
daughters born to hard-working parents living in the quaint
town of Wakita, Oklahoma. A small community of only
500 people, Wakita in the 1950’s o ered the staples of
Oklahoma rural living: starry nights, fresh air, hard-working
citizens with values and ethics, and neighbors who treated
you like family.
Life was simple, yet busy, for Cindy and her family,
as her father and grandfather ran the local Phillips 66
service station. She and her older sister would walk to
and from school, and during lunchtime, they would walk
to their grandmother’s house for lunch. And every Sunday
found Cindy next to her grandmother at the Wakita Baptist
Church.
Her dad’s strong work ethic didn’t go unnoticed by
Cindy, and she decided when she was only 15 that she
was ready for a fulltime summer job. Her family had moved
to Medford by that time, and even though it was a town
almost twice the size of Wakita, it o ered little in the form
of employment opportunities, especially for a teenager girl.
The local nursing home seemed her only option.
Assuming the duties of a nurse’s aide at such a young
age were, by Cindy’s own admission, di cult. But she
had accepted the summer job, while being clueless as to
the requirements and duties, as were her parents. “The
work was hard and unpleasant,” she recalls, recounting
the days she spent bathing, feeding, changing beds, and
caring for the elderly residents. The hours were long and
she soon found herself missing out on social activities with
her friends, causing her to reconsider her decision to take
a summer job.
“When I told Daddy that I wanted to quit, I learned a
lifetime lesson,” she stated. “He told me I was not quitting;
that I had made a commitment to work at the nursing
home that summer, and I would work every scheduled
hour.” And she did…for the next four summers.
Her years spent working at the Medford Nursing
Home had exposed her to the challenges of the elderly
and disabled, many alone and without family members
nearby. While her rst experiences with death in a real
sense came from working at the nursing home, Cindy’s
grandmother helped her to understand the need to honor
those who have touched our lives and cherish their
memories by taking her to the Wakita Cemetery, where
they would place owers on the graves of loved ones.
Ross describes her feelings about the Wakita cemetery
Continued on page 7
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 5

Dr. Cindy Ross ...continued from page 5
in the chapter she wrote in the book “Voices From the
Heartland.” “I still visit the cemetery today,” Cindy recalls,
“and I remember how my grandmother’s stories about
the names on those tombstones brought their memories
to life.” There would come a time in Cindy’s life when
she would nd herself once again caring for the elderly,
this time her own parents and her grandmother, as she
experienced their passing in the span of only a few short
years.
Upon graduation from Medford High School, Cindy
found herself experiencing higher education for the rst
time, attending Oklahoma State University. Cindy left
college after one year as she got married and went to
work, again as a nurse’s aid in a nursing home. It would
be seven years before she returned to a university, the
longest absence from higher education in her adult life.
In 1978, Cindy returned to Stillwater and took
a job at Oklahoma State University. Throughout her
employment with OSU, Cindy continued to pursue her
own academic achievements, earning bachelor, master,
and doctoral degrees. Leaders in any eld become great
by being exemplary in their tasks, and the lessons about
commitment and responsibility she learned as a teenager
proved not to be wasted on Dr. Cindy Ross, a testament to
the values instilled in her by her parents and grandmother.
She had numerous positions at OSU, nishing as Director
of Academic A airs Administration and a faculty member
in the Department of Educational Administration and
Higher Education. She gained a keen insight into the
viewpoints of not only university administrators and faculty,
but students as well. Her duties were diverse and allowed
her interaction with the student body on a regular basis, an
experience which would prove to be very bene cial in her
later career as a university President.
In 1990, she joined the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education as Associate Vice Chancellor, a job
that gave Dr. Ross the unique responsibilities for State
System academic policy: its development, revisions,
administration, and interpretation, as well as heavy
involvement in research studies and the coordination
of teacher preparedness in the state of Oklahoma. Her
excellence in this position earned her the promotion to
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic A airs, a position
which serves as the chief academic o cer for the State
System and reports to the Chancellor. This position
earned Dr. Ross valuable experience in the provision of
leadership for all academic degree programs, projects and
responsibilities contained in the State Regents’ charges,
knowledge that would prove to be very bene cial as she
reached for the next rung on her ladder of success.
“I never aspired to be the president of a university,”
Dr. Ross states, although a review of her experiences and
work history could lead one to believe it was a blueprint for
the job. “I saw the great potential that Cameron University
had, and the diversity it exempli ed,” she adds, explaining
her reasons for applying for the position she’s held since
2002. “I saw Cameron’s Centennial year approaching,
and felt it was a great opportunity to promote a great
institution.”
The list of initiatives created by Dr. Ross since her
Presidency of Cameron University began speaks volumes
about her ability to utilize her past experience and
academic knowledge, in conjunction with her values and
ethics, to bring a university, and community, together to
promote higher education.
In addition to bringing notoriety to CU with an
impressive Centennial Observance, she has shown
her understanding of the need to always set higher
standards, not only personally, but for the University, as
well. Among her many accomplishments at CU have
been overseeing the largest three-year private fundraising
campaign of any regional university in the history of the
state of Oklahoma, implementing increased standards
to recruit and retain faculty, and guiding Cameron
through its decennial reaccreditation process by the
Higher Learning Commission. Dr. Ross’s development
and construction of the Center for Emerging Technology
and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES) showed her
commitment to the community and the need for economic
development, as well as the expansion of the CETES
Conference Center with funding provided by the City of
Lawton’s Capital Improvement Program and a federal
grant from the Economic Development Administration
of the U.S. Department of Commerce. She achieved the
largest freshman class and enrollment in the University’s
history, and has maintained record enrollment growth. Her
commitment to making a Cameron education a ordable
has resulted in CU ranking, for three consecutive years,
in the top three universities out of 572 nationwide with
Cameron students graduating with the lowest debt, 65
percent of which graduate without any debt. Her in uence
can be seen in the transformation of the CU campus, with
more than $55 million worth of completed construction
projects, including the McMahon Centennial Complex
and the beautiful Bentley Gardens, making Cameron an
attractive, yet functional, learning institution.
If unfamiliar with Dr. Ross and Cameron University,
one might expect the driving force behind these, and
many other, impressive changes to Cameron University in
the last 8-1/2 years to be a large and imposing gure, rm
and hard-handed. In contrast, Dr. Ross, at only 5’3” tall,
soft-spoken and kind, exudes only grace and humility in
response to any accolades for her achievements. With a
warm smile, she says, “I give all the credit for our success
to the faculty, sta , students and the community.” She is
a woman of purpose and passion, who seeks no time
to promote herself, only the university which she feels
Continued on page 8
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 7

Paint the Town Black and Gold
Cameron Aggie Spirit & Pride on the Rise
By Anika La Shawn Sa
Sta Writer
Paint the Town Black and Gold is a student-led
initiative designed to build the
community support of Cameron
University.
“The idea is to further
connect and partner with the
Lawton-Fort Sill community,”
said Zeak Naifeh, Director of
Student Activities at Cameron
University. “We have over 100
businesses that
support Cameron.”
The concept of
Paint the Town
began as an idea of
the Student
Government
Association in the
Spring semester of
2008. Once a week
a group of students
are sent out into the
community to
introduce Cameron
University and
welcome all new
businesses in the
Lawton-Fort Sill area. The students take welcome packets
to new businesses, and after the initial contact they
Dr. Cindy Ross ...continued from page 7
blessed to have the opportunity to lead. “The students
at Cameron can experience quality academics and a full
collegiate experience,” she says … a true statement that
Dr. Ross has earned the right to promote.
Ironically, she doesn’t consider herself a visionary,
yet developed the rst campus master plan in over 20
years, and her strategic plan involves making Cameron
University the “University of Choice” for Southwest
Oklahoma. She’s well on her way.
With the passion that she has for Cameron
University, and her commitment to its success, it is easy
to imagine Dr. Ross standing on the balcony of the new
McMahon Centennial Complex, looking out across
campus, and wondering what Cameron will look like in
another 50 to 60 years.
And it’s possible that C. Vernon Howell will be
standing there with her…smiling.
follow-up with the business owners.
“Our first customer or client was the Lawton-Fort Sill
Chamber of Commerce. When we welcome businesses
we’re asking for
support and
recognition. We
don’t ask for
donations, we’re
not fund raising…
we’re friend
raising.” Naifeh
said. “It’s about
networking with the
Lawton-Fort Sill community, and
based on interactions and feedback,
many businesses are supportive.”
Naifeh has been Director of
Student Activities at Cameron for five
years, and during its run, Paint the
Town Black and Gold has been very
successful. He said, “Many
businesses are willing to help out
and get involved. For a community of
100,000 people, Lawton-Fort Sill is a
tight knit community.”
Students spend the time
networking and affiliating new
businesses with Cameron University.
The main student organization involved in Paint the Town
Black and Gold is the Student Government Association,
other groups involved are Programming Activities Council,
Student Housing Association, and Presidents Leaders
University Scholars.
The primary goals of Paint the Town Black and Gold
are: to increase the visibility of Cameron University in our
community; to encourage and enhance support of and
involvement in activities at Cameron University; and to
Promote Aggie spirit among faculty, staff, students,
alumni, and the Lawton-Fort Sill community. They have
definitely reached their goals, and then some. Paint the
Town Black and Gold has helped Cameron University
become more visible, and has growing support from
Lawton-Fort Sill and the surrounding communities.
To show your Aggie pride, and become a supporter of
Paint the Town Black and Gold contact:
Zeak Naifeh, Director of Student Activities
Cameron University
2800 W. Gore Boulevard, Lawton, OK 73505
(580) 581-2217 znaifeh@cameron.edu
www.cameron.edu/paintthetown
Page 8 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Beth Sanchez: Cake Artisan
Photography by freeze frame photography
Some artists use paints and a brush. Some use clay.
Beth Sanchez works with cake and icing.
From high-style wedding cakes, to whimsical
children’s cakes and “masculine”
cakes, her designs are unique and
crafted with an eye for minute
detail. She’s used chopped
raisins to represent tobacco in a
snuff can and made cotton
candy look like feathers. Each
cake is an artistic achievement.
Beth’s cakes are made in
flavors such as strawberry
buttermilk, Italian crème,
butter pecan and German
chocolate. And while tasty
flavors make them a
favorite at any party, it’s
not just about how they
taste. These cakes are
fun, funky and fabulous,
but they are not her only
creations. She also makes
decorated cookies and
cupcakes that are so
decadently iced that you
would swear you were
about to bite into a real
hydrangea.
Sanchez has six
children ranging in
age from 2 to 10 and
one on the way, so
you might wonder
where she gets the
time to create these
baked works of art.
She credits her
husband, Michael, for
helping her get it all
done. “He is super
amazing,” she says.
I visited with Beth
recently at a cake tasting
where I was able to sample a
divine piece of Italian crème
cake and meet two of her best
helpers, her daughter Lilli and
her son Manny.
She told me how she had
watched her grandmother cook.
“She would just toss
in a ‘pinch’ of this
and a ‘handful’ of
that without
measuring anything
and still come out
with a perfect dish,”
Sanchez recalled.
She remains in awe
of her grandmother’s
skills today.
Five years ago
she became fed up
with ordering
birthday cakes for
her children that
didn’t come out
the way she
wanted
and then
being
treated
rudely if she complained. Already a good cook
and inspired by her grandmother, Beth was
encouraged by her husband to start making the
children’s birthday cakes herself.
In 2010, a friend asked her to make a
birthday cake for his wife. Not knowing
exactly what to make and never
having worked with
fondant (a creamy
sugar paste used to
top cakes), Beth
came up with the idea
of making a Starbucks
mug. The cake was a
hit and friends and family
were demanding more.
Soon the one cake shaped like a
Starbucks mug had launched Beth into a bustling
pastime of cake making, and area cake lovers were
swooning with happiness over her artistic delights. “The
positive response has been amazing,” she says. “My
Facebook page has over 2,000 fans!”
Right now she is busily working on goodies for
Christmas parties at schools and workplaces and juggling
her own family’s holiday plans. Soon, the arrival of baby
number 7 may force her to slow down for a bit, but
nothing can stop Beth Sanchez from making her mark in
the world of artisan cakes.
You may contact Beth Sanchez by email at
beth.sanchez@rocketmail.com.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 9

The Progress of Endurance
By Anika La Shawn Sa
Sta Writer
The horrors of slavery, the cruelty of Jim Crow Laws,
racism, discrimination, and segregation is a stark reality
of the many injustices African-Americans have had to
endure. With such a negative history, it’s important to note
the incredible strides that have been made, and they must
be magni ed. The progress of perseverance, the strength
to overcome, the will to move on, the hope for equality and
justice for all despite race, creed, or skin color, has proven
human endurance.
The journey from the chains and shackles of masters,
beatings, and lynching has been long. The road from
separate drinking fountains, schools, sitting on the back of
the bus, going thru back entrances, side doors, and being
called “colored” seemed never-ending to some. Yet hope
prevailed, the desire to
be free to serve
in the United
States Armed
Forces, to
obtain a
quality
education,
or to
acquire
a higher
education,
the longing for justice and equality was a force to be
reckoned with. It caused a movement, and an outcry for
“liberty and justice for all.”
The overwhelming battles for equality and the
quest for freedom are a poignant reminders, and a sure
testament to the determination of African-Americans to
be liberated from segregation, to overcome racism and
hatred. The many challenges that came about due to
desegregation, is further validation of the strength of a
people, the hope of a race, and the might of perseverance.
As we observe Black History Month, we must always
remember where the journey began. Let us not forget the
lives lost, or the cost of freedom and liberation: blood,
sweat, tears, time, strength, and will. Freedom has a price
and it’s steep.
Always remember the heritage of our legacy, the
hope, the promise, and the challenge of
unity and equality.
As we take
a look back at
where we were
then, we must
be grateful for
where we are
now. As we
glance back in
time, look how
far we have
come.
Page 10 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY: WWW.ONLINESCHOOLS.ORG
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 11

David Baxley serves as
Chief Meteorologist for 7 News,
joining KSWO-TV in July 2008. You can watch his
forecasts weeknights and anytime severe weather
threatens the region. He is extremely happy to be in
Texoma doing what he loves most - watching the skies
and keeping viewers safe from storms.
What made you want to be a weatherman?
When I was about ve years old, a tornado touched down
less than one mile from my house during the middle of
the night. I was the only one in my family who happened
to wake up and hear the “roar” of the tornado. I asked my
mom (when I eventually woke her up after it was all over)
why a train had come close to the house. She said, “that
was a tornado!” I was hooked after that!
What excites you about the weather?
The excitement is to know that mother nature will do
whatever she wants; my job is to hopefully prepare people
for what’s to come!
What is the worst weather condition you have been
part of?
Ice Storm of 2010, but the Blizzard on Christmas Eve
2009 was a close second!
Are you a stormchaser? I have been in the past.
National Weatherman’s Day
Thursday, February 5 is National Weatherman’s Day, commemorating the birth of
John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries, one of America’s first weather observers, began taking
daily weather observations in Boston in 1774 and he took the first balloon observation
in 1784. This is a day to recognize the men and women who collectively provide
Americans with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services
of any nation.
Meet our local “weather nerds” from KSWO, channel 7 - David Baxley and Justin
Rudicel. Also celebrating Austin Bowling, weekend weather guy at KSWO.
David Baxley
I attend Skywarn training every year with the National
Weather Service. I’ll be honest, I’d rather be inside
communicating to viewers to be safe rather than being out
in the eld in the elements.
Favorite junk food? Cheesecake! Can I also count
sweet tea?
Your favorite actor/actress? Mario Lopez
Song #7 on your mp3 player? Just the Way
You Are – Bruno Mars
Your lucky number? 27
Your favorite program on KSWO?
Dancing With the Stars – OH WAIT. I’m sorry, that’s the
program I cover up during severe weather and irrate
women call me! Nevermind!
Ideal date night? A nice dinner to talk, go for ice cream
afterwards, and maybe a weather movie?
Last book you read? Joel Osteen – “It’s Your Time”
Last movie you watched? The Hangover
What do you collect? Miniature lighthouses and cool
calendars.
You wouldn’t ever catch me skydiving or bungee
jumping!
I just can’t make myself get rid of a 1995 t-shirt from
community college – it’s so comfortable!
Austin Bowling
Page 12 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

justin rudicel
Justin Rudicel, Monte Brown &
Lindsay Vocht - The new Good
Morning Texoma crew.
A native of Indianapolis,
Justin Rudicel graduated
from Ball State University
in Muncie, Indiana in 2007
with a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Meteorology and Climatology.
He also has a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Tourism, Conventions
and Event Management from Indiana
University. Justin is an active member of
the American Meteorological Society and
an active Skywarn storm spotter.
What made you want to be a weatherman? Trying to
predict and learn about the weather
What excites you about the weather? Ever changing
and the force that Mother Nature can have.
What is the worst weather condition you have been
part of? Been ½ mile from the tornado with Baseball
size hail falling within 200 yds away in a wheat flood while
winds were blowing over 60 mph.
FUN WEATHER FACTS
The amount of sunlight reaching the
earth’s surface is 6,000 times the
amount of energy used by all human
beings worldwide. The total amount of
fossil fuel used by humans since the
start of civilization is equivalent to less
than 30 days of sunshine.
The summer of 1995 was so hot
that at the end of August, methane
emitted within big bales of freshly-cut
hay in Missouri began spontaneously
combusting.
Only two states have record highs no
greater than 100 degrees. These are
Alaska and Hawaii.
records
Highest world temp:
136° F / 58° C, Al
Aziziyah, Libya, 13
September, 1922
Highest USA temperature: 134° F / 56.7° C,
Death Valley, California, 10 July, 1913
Lowest world temperature: -128.6°F / -89.6°C,
Vostok Station, Antarctica, 21 July 1983--without
windchill.
Lowest world temperature in inhabited
area: -90.4° F / -68° C, Oymyakon, Siberia
(pop. 4,000), 6 February, 1933 and also at
Verkhoyansk, Siberia, 3 January, 1885.
Lowest USA temperature: -79.8° F / -62.1° C,
Prospect Creek, Alaska, 23 January, 1971.
Are you a stormchaser? Been chasing for the
National Weather Service since I was 17.
Favorite junk food? Hot Tamales, Chips &
Salsa
Favorite actor/actress? Daniel Craig & Reese
Witherspoon (Wonder if she’ll marry me?)
Song #7 on your mp3 player? U2-
Elevation
Lucky number? 13
Favorite program on Channel 7? Wipe Out
Ideal date night? Dinner & Putt-Putt. I like fun dates
Last book you read? Weathering the Storm
Last movie you watched? Twister on Blu-Ray
What do you collect? Weather books.
You wouldn’t ever catch me bungee jumping.
I am not a fan of seafood.
Tree crickets are called the poor man’s
thermometer because temperature
directly a ects their rate of activity.
Count the number of chirps a cricket
makes in 15 seconds, then add 37.
The sum will be very close to the
outside temperature!
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 13

Page 14 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Want To Get Dumped This Valentine’s Day?
Buy These Gifts!
By Valerie Lalli
Sta Writer
Valentine’s Day: The most romantic, love filled, vomit
inducing day of the year and I just adore it! Ha! Okay not
so much. However, with that being said, I respect what it
stands for. I can appreciate someone wanting to show
their affection towards the one person (In some
cases more than one… shame on you) who
occupies their heart. You show that person how
much you care by giving him/her gifts or doing
sweet gestures. I especially love the receiving
gifts part. Do not judge me. A sweet gesture is
nice and all but seriously sweet gestures can be
done any day of the year and should be given
freely without being prompted by a special
occasion. So when a holiday comes
around that gift giving is
appropriate, I am all for it! If
you are a bad gift giver
however (You know who you
are. The ones who gave gift
certificates for a hug, fake
roses from the dollar
store, and the lovely ever
popular red cellophane
cheap box of
chocolates last year),
than this could make or
break the occasion for
your special someone.
Nothing will end the
romantic night quicker
than lingerie that is two sizes
too big or small, a CD compilation
of your favorite show tunes to your
manly man, or an exercise video. So before you wait until
the last minute to run and grab your sweetie the one gift
that is intended to be an expression of your love from the
Just for Giggles store, allow me to give you a few pointers
on what is not a great gift idea on this day of love.
I know, I know, we are all fantastic gift givers in our
own way. I am sure there is someone out there that would
totally appreciate a Sex for Dummies book or a gift
certificate for an oil change. I am going to go out on a limb
here nevertheless, and say more often than not those will
not get you laid. More like get you dumped.
Girls, if they have not asked for your picture or even if
they did a picture of you in a pink frame is not a good gift.
Now if you get them a gift that is made of awesome(like
season tickets to their favorite sports team, big screen TV,
or a trip to the destination of their choice) then sure, go
ahead and throw that picture in there with it. But if the gift
isn’t that cool or better, the picture is a no-go.
There is not a single thing sweet or sexy about the
bathroom so try to avoid any and all products that would
make you think of one. Just think about it.
We all could use some exercise but
Valentine’s Day is not the right time to give
your sweetie the gift of a gym membership.
That is unless of course you liked sleeping
alone?
The guy’s will disagree with me but video
games are bad ideas! If you want your guys to
spend hours glued to the television or forget
that you even exist for days on end then sure.
Don’t get all huffy however when you want
his attention but can’t get it. That is
your own fault. A few quick no-no’s
are cheap wine, cleaning supplies,
and porn. I shouldn’t have to
explain those.
If you can avoid
these items and just
take a little extra time
to plan ahead and
really put some thought
into your gift, you will have
a Valentine’s Day or night
you will not soon forget. Just
remember the number one
worst thing you can give is
nothing. No matter what she says,
if you dismiss the holiday all together,
you will be sleeping on the sofa. I,
myself, would have you sleeping on
the park bench down the street.
Go ahead and buy the expensive wine and make
reservations at the nice restaurant. Take a shower and shave
off that facial hair. Splurge and get the real roses instead of
the fake ones from Quick Mart. Order him that Microbrew of
the Month Club membership he has been drooling for or
give in and let him has his man cave at home. You love
them, right? If you have a chance to make your special
person happy, do it. Even if all the mushy cards, kissing
noises, and stuffed bears have you running for the nearest
toilet to stick your head into, one night will not kill you. On
the upside at least you will have an entire year to recover
from all of the pink horror. Best wishes to all of you
searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift and here’s
hoping no one ends up on the couch…Or the park bench.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 15

Monday, February 7 th
Mountain Boomers Hiking Club
9am to 11am
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy a relaxing guided hike
with other baby boomers
More info: 580-429-2199
Saturday, February 12 th
Have a Heart Zumbathon!
5pm to 7pm
Cameron University Fitness Center
More info: cameron.edu
or 580-581-6725
Tuesday, February 8 th
Magic 95 Fitness Revolution Monthly Event
8am to 1pm
Central Mall
Register to join the
Magic 95 Fitness Revolution
Enter to win free prizes
Get a free T-shirt while supplies last
Visit with fitness-related vendors
Sunday, February 20 th
The DRH Sprint Triathlon
300 meter swim, 8 mile bike ride
and 3 mile run
More info: drhhealthfoundation.org
Page 16 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

FFebruary b is i the h month hof flove, l and d
Valentine’s Day is a special day when you
and the one you love can get out of the house
and go out on the town. This year,
Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday,
so why not push everything back
to the 19th and avoid some of the
crowds? Plan to spend a quiet
evening at home on the 14th (I would
suggest giving your signi cant other
something special on this day—or you
might be dining alone on the 19th.) As
for the 19th, I’ve got a great night
out on the town planned for the
two of you.
First, you’ll need owers.
Okay, maybe “need” is a
strong word, but it’s a nice
gesture. I suggest getting
something other than
roses. Roses are nice, but
if your partner’s favorite is
something other than roses,
you can make them feel
extra special by giving them
their favorite. By doing a
little research and planning
ahead, you can make this an
over-the-top evening—and you’ll
show them how special they are.
Next, we’ll need to think about dinner. As romantic
as cooking for someone can be, I suggest going out. If
you go out, there are no dishes to worry about, and you
don’t have to spend the evening in the kitchen getting
everything ready. Let someone else deal with that. Go out
and enjoy each other’s company. As luck would have it,
Lawton has a veritable smorgasbord of restaurant choices
to t a variety of budgets. Regardless of how much you
want to spend on your Valentine, I have a few suggestions:
• Rinie’s, located on Homestead Dr. just south
of Cache Road, o ers ne dining and romantic
ambiance. You can choose to sit in the bar, where
you’ll nd a quieter atmosphere, or dine in the main
dining room and enjoy live music. Either way, you’re
sure to have an enjoyable evening with excellent
food, and wide variety of wines, and service that
cannot be beat.
• You may remember the Red River Southwest
Chop House from one of my earlier stories. What
you may not know is that since that time, the Chop
House has revised their menu, adding many more
About Town
Valentine’s Night
On The Town
scrumptious i choices, h i along l with i h llower
prices. You’ll still nd great service, and a
pleasing atmosphere – not to mention what
has to be the best steak in town.
• If you’re on more of a budget,
you might try the new Texas
Roadhouse. They sear the surface
of their steaks before putting them on
the grill, and the outcome is a steak
so juicy, you won’t even need steak
sauce.
• If you’re in the mood for Italian, I
suggest Bianco’s, a Lawton institution.
When you go, make sure to get a
salad, made with their home-made
Italian dressing, and I suggest you try
their pizza. It’s amazing!
• If an Asian fare is more to your
liking, check out Kobe on West
Cache Road. Their hibachi is not only
delicious, but also quite entertaining,
and it’s the best place in town for
sushi.
Now that you’ve lled your
stomachs, and enjoyed some
great company, your next stop should be
the McMahon Auditorium for the Lawton Philharmonic
concert, “Dance!” This particular performance is part of a
three part series of concerts. Dance! is this year’s musical
outreach performance, and it has helped the Orchestra
ful ll their desire for community involvement. Local dance
students will be performing their own choreography live
with the orchestra; so not only do you get to hear some
beautiful music, but you’ll also be seeing a local ballet
concert. It’s like getting two great performances for the
price of one. Ticket prices range from $30 to $45, and
the Orchestra is making tickets available to students
at reduced rate of $5. Because of the community’s
involvement, I would suggest purchasing your tickets well
in advance by calling 580.531.5043 between 10:00 a.m.
and 2:00 p.m. to make reservations, and order tickets.
As you can see, a night on the town can include ne
dining as well as a little culture, and you didn’t even have
to leave town. I’ve done the hard part by doing the leg
work and nding suggestions for your big night. Now, all
you need to do is make it happen. With love…
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 17

Valentine’s Dance
At the South Star Dance Academy
As we celebrate the most
romantic day of the year
Friday, February 11
8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Free Salsa / Merengue dance Lesson
Great music, lot of fun,
refreshments provided
Tickets: $10 per person
or $16 for couple
201 C Ave Suite B Lawton OK, 73507
For more information
call (580) 699-5222 or (706) 718-5315
Where Love is in the air,
you need to be there.
Page 18 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

calendar
FEBRUARY
of
2011
events
3rd Annual Storytelling Festival
February 4, 6:30 p.m.
Duncan Senior Citizen Center, Duncan
Sam McMichael, Professional Storyteller
580.255.6902
14th Annual Polar Bear Plunge
February 5, 2 p.m.
Medicine Park
580.529.2825
Nye Library Book Club
February 6, 2 p.m.
Nye Library, Fort Sill
Discussion: Blink by Ted Dekker
580.442.3806
Be My Valentine Dinner and Dance
February 11, 6:30 p.m.
Simmons Center, Duncan
580.252.2900 x 238
Valentine’s Dance
At the South Star Dance Academy
Friday, February 11
8:00 pm.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Free Salsa / Merengue Dance lesson
For more information call 706-718-5315
or e-mail www. rhwilk1@hotmail.com
Poetry Reading
February 12, 7 p.m.
Leslie Powell Gallery, Lawton
Dr. John G. Morris, Unwritten Histories: Poems to Love
580.357.9526
Valentine’s Dinner and Dance
February 12, 7:00 p.m.
Best Western Hotel & Convention Center, Lawton
580.353.0200
Let’s Talk About it Oklahoma
February 15, 6:30 p.m.
Lawton Public Library, Lawton
“In Country” with Dr. Jennifer Kidney
580.581.3450
Lunch Bag Lecture
February 17, 12:15 p.m.
Leslie Powell Gallery, Lawton
Maestro Jon Kalb eisch, Dance! Lawton Creates a Ballet
580.357.9526
For the Love of Quilts: Kickin’ Up Our Heels, 20th Anniversary Quilt Show
February 18 - 19, 10 a.m.
Great Plains Coliseum Annex, Lawton
Oklahoma Art Guild
Seeks Entries for
“Oklahoma Friendly 2011”
National Juried Show
The Oklahoma Art Guild would like to invite artists
nationwide, over 18 and working in all visual media, to
submit entries for our national juried exhibition. ‘Oklahoma
Friendly 2011’ is set to open at the IAO Gallery, 706 W.
Sheridan, Oklahoma City on Friday, March 18, 2011. This
exhibition will be on display, March 18 through April 9.
Artists interested in entering this exhibition must
submit their art no later than February 20, 2011. For all
entry details and guidelines, visit www.okartguild.com/.
Online Entry Deadline: February 20, 2011
Acceptance Notification: March 1, 2011
Enter at: http://www.okartguild.com
Inquiries: okfriendly@okartguild.com
Contact: Annalisa Campbell
The jury panel will consist of four art professionals
from the Oklahoma arts community and curator of awards,
Nancy P Anderson. Nancy is the Executive Director and
Curator of the Leslie Powell Foundation and Gallery in
Lawton, Oklahoma since March 1989.
Over $4,000 in cash, purchase, and artistic awards will
be available. Nancy P Anderson will choose final Awards
from a mixture of media in five categories, plus “Best of
Show” and the “Pioneer Spirit” awards for artistic innovation.
Annalisa Campbell, president of the Oklahoma Art
Guild noted, “This exhibit continues to grow in the number
and diversity of entries. The variety of media and the
breadth of styles exemplify the inviting and friendly nature of
our state. This will be an art exhibit that everyone can enjoy.”
The Oklahoma Art Guild (OAG) is committed to the
promotion of creativity, education, and the advancement
of the visual arts. This non-profit organization was founded
in 1954 and continues to provide support and
encouragement to Oklahoma artists. OAG membership is
open to professional and amateur artists of all media,
students, art enthusiasts and patrons of the visual arts.
The Oklahoma Art Guild’s mission is sponsored in
part by the Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Council.
For more information visit www.okartguild.com
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 19

calendar
FEBRUARY
of
2011
events
FILM
Magic Lantern Film Society: In the Heat of the Night
February 4, 7:30 p.m.
CETES Conference Center B, Cameron University, Lawton
580.581.2491
Magic Lantern Film Society: Mr. Blandings Builds His
Dream House
February 18, 7:30 p.m.
CETES Conference Center B, Cameron University, Lawton
580.581.2491
ART
Arts for All Luncheon
February 4, 12 p.m.
McMahon Centennial Complex
Cameron University, Lawton
Speaker, Dr. James Brock
Children’s Art Studio: Working in 3-D
Enroll through February 5
For children in grades 3 – 6.
580.581.3470
Decadent Evening of Art & Chocolate
February 5, 7 p.m.
Home of Ralph & Brenda McDaniel, Duncan
Tickets $5, to bene t Habitat for Humanity
580.656.7676
Drawing Classes (FREE!)
Every rst Thursday
Lawton Fort Sill Art Council, 17th and Ferris, Lawton
580.678.6248
MUSIC
Romantic Evening with ETA3
Classic Chamber Music
February 12, 7:30 p.m.
Lawton Country Club, Lawton
580.531.5043
Dance!
Presented by Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra
February 19, 8 p.m.
McMahon Auditorium, Lawton
580.531.5043
Plumber Family Country Music Concert
February 19, 7 p.m.
Duncan High School Auditorium, Duncan
580.656.1920
CU/Lawton Community Band & CU/Lawton Civic Chorale
Spring Concert
February 27, 3 p.m.
Cameron University Theatre, Lawton
816-699-3900
5112 W. Gore Blvd.
Now accepting new patients.
OKIE Magazine is YOUR community
publication. Submit your press releases
and/or group events to
editor@okiemangazine.com.
Page 20 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Lawton Arts & Humanities
2011 International Festival
This year’s 32nd annual International Festival will be
held September 23, 24, & 25. If you are interested in
being a 2011 sponsor, food or sales vendor, community
performer, or volunteer, please call the Arts & Humanities
Division.
In addition, all multi-cultural clubs and organizations
are invited to join no matter where you live.
Festival meetings are held at the Lawton Public
Library at 6 pm on the 1st Tuesday of each month and are
open to the public.
For more information please contact:
Lawton Arts & Humanities
(580) 581-3470/581-3471
Website: www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/lahc/if
2 nd Annual City of Lawton Children ’s Art Fair
Plans are underway for the 2 nd Annual City of Lawton
Children’s Art Fair. The fair is scheduled for Saturday, April
30 th from 11a-2pm in Bridge Park . The fair will include
both art on exhibit and an interactive component. Original
artwork from K-5 th graders will be on exhibit. A call for
entries will be released prior to the fair. Interactive art on
site will include sidewalk chalk, musical instruments and
more.
American Band Music Festival
This summer, Lawton will host the 2nd Annual
American Band Music Festival in Elmer Thomas Park
during the first weekend of July. Planning for the festival is
currently underway; a call for bands will soon be released.
The American Band Music Festival provides a family
friendly event for the community and provides local
musicians a venue to showcase their talents.
For those interested in participating as a contestant,
planning committee member or event volunteer please
contact:
Melissa Mayfield at 580-581-3400
calendar
FEBRUARY
of
2011
events
and Project Proto Judy: Local Mammoth Dig.
Ongoing
580.581.3460
Duncan Library Art Exhibit
February 1 – 28, open during library hours
Community Fine Arts Center, Duncan
580.252.4160
Youth Services Coordinator
City of Lawton
1405 S. 11 th
Lawton, OK 73501
(580) 581-3400
mmayfield@cityof.lawton.ok.us
Children’s Art Studio Spring 2010
Working in 3-D!!
For children in grades 3, 4, 5 & 6
Enroll now, limited space available!
*Deadline-February 4
Children will receive instruction in Art, Vocabulary,
Appreciation, Drawing, and 3-D Art with a real art exhibit
of their works at the McMahon Memorial Auditorium at the
end of the class. Cost is $30 and includes supplies and
mid-morning snacks. A few scholarships are available on
a first come/first served basis. Classes will be held on
Saturdays from February 5-March 12, from 9-noon at the
Old Town Hall/Carnegie Library located at 5 th and B Ave.
in Lawton. This program is sponsored by the Lawton Arts
& Humanities Council, Oklahoma Arts Council, National
Endowment for the Arts, McMahon Auditorium Authority,
and Lawton Public Schools. For more information, please
call the Lawton Arts & Humanities Division at 581-3470 or
581-3471.
Page 22 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

ZELBST, HOLMES & BUTLER
OKLAHOMA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
• No Fees Unless You Win!
• Over 50 Years of Experience
• Free Consultations
Zelbst, Holmes & Butler • 411 SW 6 th Street • Lawton, OK 73501 • www.zelbst.com
580-248-4844 • 800-952-4844
Zelbst, Holmes & Butler serve Oklahoma City, Lawton, Edmond, Norman and all the United States.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 23

Working back to back in providing you world class service!
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 24
Each office is independently owned and operated.

!
707 SW Normandy Eisenhower Village.
$139,000 3 bed 2.5 bath. Great West
side location, Area Pool, walking track,
playground. 1900 sq.ft.
3103 NE Kingsbriar $165,000
3 bed 2 Bath. Desirable east side
neighborhood. Sunroom and bonus
room, hot tub. 2,100 sq. ft.
Bentley Greb
ERA Johnny Owens Residential
2202 NW Ferris Ave.
Lawton, OK 73507
bentley.greb@ERA.com
Mobile: (580) 583-8027
John Mayhue
Mortgage Loan Officer
1416 NW Sheridan Rd
Lawton, OK 73505
jmayhue@firstmortgageco.com
Mobile: (580) 678-6128
2110 Hoover $64,900 3 bed 1 bath.
Excellent Redo! Everything is sparkling
clean and new! Close to Ft. Sill.
256 Landon Lane $240,000 Beautiful
home on 2.5 acres. Formal dining or
second living area. Gas fireplace, full
sprinkler system, pantry. Great
spacious floor plan with 3+ baths. Just
minutes to Apache Gate.
Build your new home on a lot wtih a
beautiful view and exclusive location.
We have lots available in Hummingbird
Estates on the Golf Course, Kimber Ridge
for views of Mount Scott, and land for
sale on Deyo (will subdivide).
305 NW 40 th St. 3 bed 1.5 bath.
A flashy complete redo! Stainless steel
appliances, custom backsplash, vessel
sinks, and much more!
6402 SE Bishop Road $189,900
4 bedrooms 2 bath. Granite, Stainless
Steel appliances, White picket size
fence. Sits on 2½ acres.
• Purchase or refinance
• VA/ FHA/ and Conventional Loan Specialist
• Pre-qualify and Browse Online at
Web-http://firstmortgageco.com/johnmayhue
Freedom
It's not about loans...it's about lives.
It's not about files...it's about famililes.
It's not about credit...it's about caring.
It's not about mortgages...it's about giving more.
Page 25 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Museum of the Great Plains
Race and Identity of the Lawton-Fort Sill Community
By Anika La Shawn Sa
Sta Writer
This February, the Museum of the Great Plains is
honoring Black History Month by spotlighting the 1940’s
& 1950’s. They will feature an exhibit titled “Race and
Identity of the Lawton-Fort Sill Community” that will focus
on the African-American
soldiers in the Lawton-
Fort Sill community
during World War II. Over
12 million Americans
served in the Armed
Forces during the war,
and about one million
of those serving were
African-Americans. In
1940, the Army had
only ve black o cers,
three were Chaplains.
Throughout most of the
war, African-Americans
were segregated into allblack
units and restricted
to non-combat duties.
The exhibit will examine closely the plight African-
American soldiers and their return home from the war.
African-American soldiers have served at Fort Sill since
its creation, helping build the post, and winning renown
as Bu alo Soldiers during the wars against the Plains
Indians. The museum will also highlight the bravery, and
the many specialized areas of the African-American
soldiers.
Due to the Army’s segregation policy, African-
American troops belonged to the Fourth Colored
Detachment. When the troop buildup for World War II
began, incoming African-American troops trained in the
349th Training Squadron. The exhibit will re ect on the
integration of the African-American soldiers on Fort Sill in
the late 1940’s when President Truman issued Executive
Order 9981. The order declared that “there shall be
equality of treatment and opportunity for all person in the
armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or
national origin.” Though the order was in place, it took until
1953 for the majority of the Army units to integrate.
The museum will also highlight local schools in the
Lawton-Fort Sill community. During the 1940’s & 50’s
schools, such as Dunbar
and Douglass, were
all-black schools. The
exhibit will examine how
the 1954 Supreme Court
ruling to strike down
segregation in Brown
v. Board of Education
a ected the Lawton-Fort
Sill Community. When
the Supreme Court
declared, “Separate
is inherently unequal,”
school districts across
the country were told they
must desegregate “with
all deliberate action.” The
Lawton Public School
administration moved swiftly to comply, and adopted a
“freedom of choice” plan.
This exhibit will surely enlighten you.
Black History Month
Museum of the Great Plains
Race and Identity of the Lawton-Fort Sill
Community
Exhibit will open January 29 and run thru March 13.
For more information you may contact:
The Museum of the Great Plains
601 NW Ferris Avenue
Lawton, OK 73507
(580) 581-3460
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 1pm-5pm
www.museumgreatplains.org
OKIE Magazine is YOUR community publication.
Submit your press releases and/or group events to
editor@okiemagazine.com.
Page 26 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

176 West Lake Drive
in Medicine Park
Call Donna
580.284.3580
RoundRockCabins.com
Visit our new office at
1516 SW Sheridan Road.
Metal framing - Fencing - Drywall -
Acoustic Ceilings - Other Services
Michael Taylor - Owner 580-353-1678
stonegateservicesllc.com
OKIE Magazine is
YOUR community
publication. Submit your
Das Bratwurst Haus
press releases and/or
“NEW & IMPROVED”
group
COMING
events
SOON!
to editor@
okiemangazine.com.
Call 580-678-9024
LEWIS
411 SW McKinley
Lawton, Oklahoma
Monday Night Auctions
5 8 0 - 3 5 5 - 8 8 4 7
Read OKIE Magazine online at www.okiemagazine.com
Warehouse
Furniture and
Auction
Service
Amy Merchant
580.919.5339
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 27

The Poet, Ai, Found a Home in Oklahoma
By Aaron Rudolph
Sta Writer
The poet, Ai, was well-known for her writing. She was
often invited to read her poetry at college campuses
across the country. She died on March 20, 2010, and her
death affected many poets and poetry readers. In
Oklahoma, many knew
her personally as a
friend, professor, or
colleague. She taught at
Oklahoma State
University in Stillwater.
Ai’s name is one she
chose herself; she legally
changed her name. Of
her name, Ai stated, “Ai is
the only name by which I
wish, and indeed, should
be known.” It is a
Japanese word meaning
“love”. Ai found out as a
teenager that her father
was someone she had
never met and that he
was Japanese. Because
of this she felt that her
name no longer
represented her
accurately. She took an interest in the Japanese
language, majoring in it at college. She also received
a Master of Finer Arts degree in Creative Writing at
the University of California-Irvine.
Ai was often labeled as an African-American poet
only, but she made it clear that she could not be easily
defined. In addition to having Japanese ancestry from
her father, she also claimed African-American,
Cheyenne, Comanche, Choctaw-Chickasaw, and Irish
heritages. She became familiar with her Japanese
side after learning about her father, but she also felt
connected to several American Indian tribes. She spent
her childhood living in several different cities throughout
the west, but as an adult settling in Oklahoma, she felt
connected to the land and the people living on it. Ai had
family from Oklahoma and she related to those tribes she
had familial connections to, including the Comanche.
Oklahoma afforded her that comfortability, to feel like she
was not still constantly on the move, isolated from
everyone.
In addition to her skill with poetry, Ai was known for
being eccentric. As a student at two different schools, I
heard stories of Ai that were fascinating, intriguing, and
often funny, yet difficult sometimes to believe. Other
writers who were in town to present their work would
share personal stories of Ai. Poet Stephen Dunn wrote a
poem in which he includes an anecdote about how his
college would not write a check to her because they
insisted that her name was too short and that it had to be
at least four characters long. One writer
spoke of her forthrightness, her
unwillingness to censor herself, even if other
were uncomfortable. She sometimes took
long car trips to get to readings, as she did
to read at the school in Texas where my
friends and I anxiously awaited her five years
ago. Because of an emergency in Stillwater,
she never came. Though I never heard her
read in person, I still had her poems to
reread and explore.
Of course, discussing the personality or
characteristics of a writer isn’t really
necessary or relevant to discussing that
writer’s work. But to speak of Ai as eccentric
or unwilling to bend a hard truth, is to
preface the nature of her poems as
well. Ai won the National Book Award
in 1999 for Vice: New and Selected
Poems. Her next book, Dread,
published in 2003, also received
critical praise for its honest,
unapologetic tone in poems about
abuse, loss, and grief. In that book, Ai
offers poems from the point-of-view
of several women who deal with
tragedies. One character copes with
loss of loved ones in a situation much
like the 9/11 tragedy while other
women in the collection must come to
terms with being victims of sexual
abuse. In all these poems, Ai skillfully
uses a combination of compassion and outrage in order
to accurately depict the horror, guilt, and shame felt by the
women in these poems. I assigned the book to poetry
students and as a class, they agreed that though the
poems were emotionally difficult to read, they were glad
to have read them and were now aware of perspectives
that are not often shared or expressed.
Though Ai was known internationally for her writing,
she decided to claim Oklahoma as home and like many
Okies, lived in other places before landing in this state. In
Oklahoma, teaching at OSU, she wrote much of her
published work. Her name is also synonymous with the
creative writing program at OSU. To what degree, the
state influenced her writing will probably be debated by
literary scholars in the coming years.
Page 28 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Lori E. Gee, DVM
Where Pets Are Family
LOST or FOUND pets scanned
for chips anytime at NO charge!
Pet Tip of the Month:
Dog’s ears, feet and tail are highly susceptible to
frostbite, so limit their time outdoors. Don’t forget to
check water bowls during freezing temperatures.
Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 5:30 5220 NW Cache Rd.
Lawton, OK 73505
Saturday: 8:00 - 12:00 Phone: 580/351-0581
Office hours by Appointment Fax: 580/351-6929
Email: Creeksideanimalhos@att.net
creeksideanimalhospitalonline.com
We want photos of your dog or
cat! If we select your pet, you win
your choice of a complimentary
grooming service or a pet portrait.
Send your photos to editor@
okiemagazine.com
for consideration.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 29

To watch a band called SPELL, one
can only be breathless with the intensity
of their performances. They live up to their
name as the fans jam to their music in
awe. SPELL draws the fans in with their
magnetism, charisma, and unadulterated
talent. Though the band has experienced
changes over the last four years, SPELL
is still playing with magic that drew them
together. This band is not going away
anytime soon.
Wil Jones and Tracy Stove-Austin are
the original members of the band, and
continue to play a variety of music from
blues rock to country to modern rock, and
everything
in between.
Talking with the
band members
over the past
year, a fan
would learn
that one of their
favorite groups
is a band
named Tool.
SPELL likes
to encourage
the audience
to participate
in songs that
draw fans in
closer. I once
asked how
they decided
on the name
SPELL. Jones
said, “when I rst played with Tracy
it was magic. It was like she had
cast a spell on me.” His nickname
for her is nightingale, and they
continue to cast a SPELL on the
fans throughout Oklahoma and
northern Texas.
Wil Jones, originally from
Altus, Oklahoma is currently the
lead guitarist for the band. Tracy
Stover-Austin, originally from
Lawton, Oklahoma, is currently
the lead singer for the band and
has been singing for many years.
SPELL not only loves to play, but
they love their fans. Their goal is
SPELL
to perform for the fans and to give back to the community.
Over the last couple of years, SPELL has performed at
bene ts such as Toys for Tots and the COPS and Kids
picnic.
What in uences SPELL to play with the power, love,
and rawness is what in uences them? Their greatest
in uence is life. SPELL has been together for almost
four years and is still
going strong. As long
as they can play, they
will continue to play
for their fans, friends,
and family. One quote
on their Facebook
fan is, “until it is time
to play again.” They
practice several times
a week at the back of
a local music store in
Lawton, Oklahoma.
For more information
about SPELL, check
out their MYSPACE
and Facebook fan
pages or contact
their booking agent at
spelltheband@gmail.
com.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 31

By Becky Smith Gallops
Sta Writer
If you are o ended by obscenity, you should stop
reading right here because I’m about to say a very dirty
four-letter-word.
LOVE.
There, I said it. You may be
thinking: what is so bad
about that word? On
the surface, nothing.
I love my children,
parents, friends—I
even love my dogs.
What I do not love
is the world we live
in, which tells me
that I can’t be happy
without the love of a
“good man.”
Just turn on
the radio where you
can listen to Bon Jovi
crooning, “What do you
got if you ain’t got love?”
Apparently the answer is nothing.
Thanks Jon.
I think that love might be just the
teensiest little bit overrated. Since time began,
poets have written odes to it and singers have
sung of its glories and heartaches. Women in love want
everyone they know to be in love too, which has resulted
in some of the worst blind dates ever.
Let’s say you happen to make peace with the fact that
you are currently unattached. Don’t worry, that won’t last.
If you don’t already feel bad about being alone, let
the card and candy companies help you out. Valentine’s
Day is upon us and the population will soon be inundated
with reminders to shower their beloved with gifts to mark
Love is a 4-Letter Word
the occasion. That’s great, unless of course you don’t
have a beloved. Then you just buy that 10 pound box of
chocolates and eat it alone in front of the DVD player
while watching Love Story
and The Way We Were.
If you aren’t sobbing
while watching the
movies, you will be
the next time you
step on the scale.
There is
nothing wrong
with being alone.
Some people
prefer it, and some
just do better that
way. Sometimes folks
need a chance to
clear their head, get in
touch with themselves or
just enjoy being one without
being part of a twosome.
You’ve heard Three Dog Night
telling you that “one is the loneliest
number?” They lie.
Going to a restaurant or a movie alone
probably isn’t at the top of anyone’s list of fun
things to do, but that’s what friends are for. They
are there to support you through the rough times and
keep you company when you are lonely…and go to the
movies with you when you are dateless.
At home you can always use your “me time” to re ect
on life and other misadventures, blog, repaint your
bathroom or eat a gallon of ice cream.
Love. Highly overrated. Hard to live without.
Page 32 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

You spend too much time
hanging out with the other 13
personalities you have.
Deodorant hasn’t been on
your shopping list since 1984.
You’ve never made a mistake…
you’re always right…and you
never apologize…ever.
Your parents don’t allow you to
have guests in their basement.
You refuse to date anyone
who can’t make it to level
40 of World of Warcraft.
Two words: bunk beds.
In Honor of
SINGLE AWARENESS MONTH
“REASONS WHY YOU’RE
PROBABLY STILL SINGLE”
By Mortimor Oullouitious Snerkleschwartz
That shrine in your living room,
complete with burning candles,
dedicated to Ted Bundy.
You try to make a good
impression on the rst date
by showing o your extensive
scalpel collection.
Inviting your signi cant other to
meet your parents involves a
background check and full bodycavity
searches… just to get into
the prison on visiting day.
Your poisonous
snake collection.
You insist on wearing your lucky
“Who Farted?” cap on all your dates.
Your social life revolves
around who you meet at the
unemployment o ce.
That ankle monitor limits
your ability to choose a nice
restaurant for your dates.
Typing your name into a Google
search results in being
directed to the state’s “Fugitives
from Justice” website.
All of your dates have to be
approved by the Court…
as a condition of your parole.
Every out t you own
has been ‘bedazzled’.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 33

Qu
t H
Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
3 pounds sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and thinly sliced
6 cups water
2 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
Heat oven to 400F degrees. Prick the potatoes with fork, place on baking sheet, and roast until tender (approx.
40 minutes). Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onion, celery and apple. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Halve
the potatoes, scoop out the esh and add to saucepan. Add water, salt and pepper. Cook until heated through.
Puree the soup in saucepan using handheld blender. Add water, if necessary, to reach desired thickness.
TexMex Corn &
Bean Chowder
1 can of whole kernel corn - drain
1 can of creamed corn
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chilis)
1 can black beans - drain
1 cup chicken broth
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 chicken breast cooked and cubed
Directions t for the cooking challenged in your
house. Add all ingredients to pan and heat through.
Serve with tortilla chips and warm tortillas.
“Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good
living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and
stimulate the appetite than any other one dish.”
Louis P. De Gouy, Chef
Hamburger Soup
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced raw potatoes
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup sliced celery
4 cup tomatoes
¼ cup rice
3 cup water
4 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. basil
¼ tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
Brown
meat and
onion, drain.
Add all
remaining
ingredients
and bring to
a boil. Cover
and simmer
for 1 hour.
Makes 9 cups.
Page 34 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Lola, our normal Domestic Diva, has taken the month o to prepare
for the Big Game and something about a spa...I wonder if the “spa” is the same one
that Lindsay Lohan goes to...either way, Edna is your guest Diva this month
and while she is not as obnoxiously perfect as Lola, her standards are equally as high.
Dear Readers,
Some folks claim that vinegar is the most amazing invention for health, beauty and cleanliness. I
thought this month I would pass along some uses for vinegar and you decide whether they work for you or
not.
• Keep dogs from scratching
ears. Clean the inside of the
ears with a soft cloth dipped in
diluted vinegar.
• Protect your pets from eas
and mange. Add a few drops of
vinegar to your pet’s drinking
water.
• Marinating meat in vinegar kills
bacteria and tenderizes the
meat.
• Vinegar does wonders for hard
water stains in the kitchen and
bath areas.
• Clean the scum and mildew and
grossness from your bathroom
with straight vinegar applied to
surfaces.
• Cut grease and odor on dishes by adding a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water.
• Scale sh more easily by rubbing with vinegar a few minutes before scaling.
• Your rice will taste better with a little more u if you add a splash or two of vinegar to boiling
water.
• Clean the air by letting a pot of vinegar and water simmer on the stove.
• For appetite control, a splash of vinegar on your foods will cut the hunger.
• Cold season - relieve a cough by mixing 1/2 cup Apple Cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, one tsp
cayenne pepper, and 5 tsp honey. Take one tablespoon for coughing and another at bedtime.
Ta-ta for now,
Edna
Need advice on your domestic situation? You can reach The Domestic Diva at TheDivineDomestic@gmail.com
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 35

happy hour
Any size
coffee
just 92¢
5 - 9 am Every Day!
happy hour
Any size
fountain drink
just 92¢
5 - 9 pm Every Day!
Page 36 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

ACROSS
1. A member of a Slavic
people
5. Not him
8. Within
12. Slender woodwind
instrument
13. Relating to an unborn
child
15. Room barrier
16. Dry
17. Pertaining to modern
day Persia
18. Initial wager
19. Plant inseminating
22. Chief Executive Officer
23. Beer
24. A wound made by
cutting
26. Death
29. A Hindu banker
31. Facsimile
32. Until now (2 words)
34. Parts portrayed
36. Zulu warriors
38. Sea eagles
40. A sudden numbing
dread
41. Small slender gulls
43. Model of excellence
45. No
46. Break away
48. More than enough
50. Identical
51. V
52. A potent estrogen
54. Indivisible
61. Murres
63. Branchlet
64. Crucifix
65. Support
66. US symbol
67. Prefix indicating
“Within”
68. Anglo-Saxon slave
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15
16 17 18
19 20 21 22
69. Sun god (Roman
mythology)
70. View as
DOWN
1. Used in bathing
2. A river in Spain
3. Churn
4. Chaos
5. Queen of the gods
(Greek mythology)
6. French for “State”
7. Hindu princess
8. Actress ___ Lupino
9. Without a care
10. Carry
11. Chocolate cookie
13. Skillful handling of a
23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35
36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45
46 47 48 49
50 51
52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64
65 66 67
68 69 70
situation
14. Jargon
20. An ancient city in Asia
Minor
21. Indian wild ox
25. An Anglo-Saxon
minstrel
26. Ladies
27. The look on one’s face
28. Lofty nest
29. Having a sharp
inclination
30. Pass along
31. Healthy
33. Finish
35. Clever
37. Native of South
America
39. Collect discarded
material
42. Trailer truck
44. A suggestive look
47. Compact
49. Approached
52. Fool
53. Goes astray
55. Resorts
56. Therefore
57. Tablet
58. Part of a skeleton
59. Ore deposit
60. Ancient Biblical
kingdom
62. Gorilla
Solution on page 32
OKIE Magazine is YOUR community publication.
Submit your press releases and/or group events to editor@okiemangazine.com.
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 37

The Barbie doll has had 126
careers since 1959.
Barbie has had an ever changing
career history over the years
including an airline attendant,
a dentist, a doctor, a
veterinarian, a racecar
driver and now ...
By popular vote at
Barbie.com, the 2010
winners and the
newest careers for
the “Barbie I can be...”
series is the News
Anchor Doll and the
Computer Engineer
Doll.
To add to your
collection, visit
Barbie.com.
Come visit us on Facebook
FACEBOOK.COM/OKIEMAGAZINE
OKIE Magazine is YOUR
community publication.
Submit your press releases
and/or group events to:
editor@okiemangazine.com.
Jessica “Trixy” Dunkle
Trixy’s Red Light Entertainment
Karaoke & DJ — All Occasions — Call & Book Today
580-574-3671 — trixy66@sbcglobal.net
Appearing at:
Randiddy's
1816 SW 11th - Fridays 9:30-1:30
Little Star
1116 NW Cache Rd - Fridays 9:30-1:30
He's Not Here
1806 SW 11th - Thurs 8-12 Sat 9-1 and Sun 3-7
Guys and Dolls
Trixy's Red Light Karaoke Gong Show
4 SW Lee - October 15th Appearing at:
- 8:30 signups
Page 38 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Crossword Solution
S E R B H E R I N T O
O B O E F E T A L D O O R
A R I D I R A N I A N T E
P O L L I N A T I N G C E O
A L E G A S H
D E M I S E S O U C A R
F A X A S Y E T R O L E S
I M P I E R N E S P A L L
T E R N S I D E A L N A Y
S E C E D E P L E N T Y
S A M E V E E
D E S I N S E P A R A B L E
U R I A S P R I G R O O D
P R O P E A G L E E N D O
E S N E S O L D E E M
Visit us on Twitter
twitter.com/
okiemagazine
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 39

Reel
World
By Jim Joplin
Sta Writer
We’ve come a long way with 3D movies since the first film was
presented in 3D back in 1915. But, one could ask if the use of 3D
technology has become over-used. It seems like every other movie to
come out these days is a RealD movie. Is the use of 3D technology
being used to enhance the story or to enhance the presentation of
that story? First, let’s look at where we’ve come from…
The use of 3D in entertainment has been around since 1838
when Charles Wheatstone discovered stereograms. These first 3D
depictions were viewed with a stereoscope, viewing picture postcards
with two slightly skewed images. These stereograms were hugely
popular for several decades to follow.
Since 1939, View-Master has been a device used to view 3D
images stored on a paper disk. The View-Master began as a substitute
for postcards, allowing tourists to see attraction in 3D instead of
the 2D postcards. It wasn’t until later that Disney helped the View-
Master become popular with children.
There was a resurgence in Viewmaster’s popularity when autostereograms
began being produced by computers in the 1980s.
Autostereogram images were printed as 2D images, where the 3D
image could be seen when the viewer crossed or relaxed their eyes.
One company who helped to make this hugely popular was Magic
Eye.
The first film to use 3D technology was a compilation of shorts
filmed by Edwin S. Porter and W.E. Waddell. It was presented using a
technology called anaglyphic filming. For those of us who remember
the red and blue 3D glasses, we’re more familiar with anaglyphic filing
than you might think. Porter and Waddell’s film was done in red and
green but used the same technology. In this process, the image is
Continued on page 43
Coming to Theaters
in February
Gnomeo and Juliet
(PG) Feb. 11—
The classic play by
Shakespeare portrayed
by garden gnomes looks
like it will be a cute movie.
Original music by Elton
John.
I Am Number Four
(PG13) Feb. 18—Sci-
Fi/Action lm about
an extraordinary teen,
passing for a typical high
school student, trying to
elude a deadly enemy
who is trying to kill him.
Three have already been killed…he is
Number Four. Directed by D.J. Caruso
(Eagle Eye, Disturbia).
Coming to DVD in February
For Colored Girls (R)
Feb. 8—Dramedy based
on the play by Ntozake
Shange. This movie is “a
poet explanation of what
it is to be of color and a
female in this world.” Each
of the women protract
one of the characters represented in the
collection of twenty poems, revealing
di erent issues that impact women in
general and women of color.
It’s Kind of a Funny
Story (PG13) Feb. 8
—Dramedy about a
clinically depressed
teenager who gets a
new start after he checks
himself into an adult
psychiatric ward. Based
on Ned Vizzini’s semi-autographical
novel. Rolling Stone called this one of
the “must see movies” of 2010. I whole
heartedly agree.
Page 40 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

For the cost of this
You can feed
families.
The Lawton Food Bank
1405 W. 20th Street • Lawton, Oklahoma
580-353-7994

D L T E N L U H A T E W Y O H N K K
N A O E E O Y K R B R A L T R L L M
O L E D A E T Y R P E B O I I O H N
L A I D N A L T E H S R A C F C S E
O E O M R T E R O E A H E F S N R M
N M O G F N E T O C O L U M B I A O
I R H C L N E E L M A S F L H L L K
R E L A D Y E L S N E W I S M S P K
E T L A C T I L D W O D P O I T A L
M S L P M H R I A O A M A N M E C C
I E L O Y E C U L D A T U L O A A C
Y C D R O F X O U H E T E S E E M P
A I R O A B O B D T O I O R K O E C
R E E M N W M M E U L O R R H O L L
K L S A G E N A P O L W A R T H X H
O S O N O A M R B S T E S R O D A N
X I O O R U N L M V L K R S I C K G
M L T V A O O O W H T C L A U E I R
Alpaca
Angora
Bamboo
Camel
Cashmere
Columbia
Corriedale
Cotton
Dorset
Hampshire
Icelandic
KerryHill
Leicester
Lincoln
Longwool
Merino
Mohair
Muskox
Oxford
Perendale
Polwarth
Rambouillet
Romanov
Romedale
Romney
Shetland
Silk
Southdown
Su olk
Targhee
Teeswater
Tunis
Wensleydale
Wool
Solution on page 44
Page 42 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Reel World...continued from page 40
duplicated and one is presented in a blue (or green) tint
with a red tinted image shifted slightly and super-imposed
on the blue. The effect wasn’t what the film makers had
imagined and the film tanked. There wasn’t another 3D film
made until 1922—and it had about the same amount of
success as the first one. There wasn’t another Americanmade
3D film until 1951, when a short-lived 3D boom took
place. During this boom, there were forty-five 3D films
made— thirty-nine were made between January 1952 and
December 1953.
The 3D that we know today came from the Walt Disney
Company when they brought us Chicken Little. In fact,
Disney contacted the folks at RealD to make Chicken
Little the best 3D that the world had seen…ever. To make
the experience all that it could be, Disney collaborated with
RealD to install new 3D digital projectors by Christie
along with new silver screens in 82 theaters across the
country.
So, let’s go back to the original question: does the 3D
effect enhance the story or the presentation? Well, obviously,
the stories would be the same, whether it is in 3D or
2D. So, why have we gone 3D crazy? Two words: it’s cool!
Yeah, that’s the gist of it. I’m positive that AVATAR would
have been just as good if we had only seen it in 2D. In fact,
I watched SAW VII (which was filmed in 3D instead of
being converted from 2D like most films) and there were
only two scenes that I thought would have been better in
3D. They added nothing to the story; they were just cool.
I’m glad to see that theaters are started to give viewers
the option of 3D and 2D for the 3D movies that are coming
out. It’s not just because it saves me $3, but because I’m
beginning to see that 3D isn’t always necessary. Will I continue
to pay for 3D? Of course. I’m just happy that I’m given
a choice.
it’s Coming!
Rock, Stock & Barrels
Lawton Food Bank
Lawton Food Bank
www.rockstockandbarrels.com
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 43

Word Search Solution
D L T E N L U H A T E W Y O H N K K
N A O E E O Y K R B R A L T R L L M
O L E D A E T Y R P E B O I I O H N
L A I D N A L T E H S R A C F C S E
O E O M R T E R O E A H E F S N R M
N M O G F N E T O C O L U M B I A O
I R H C L N E E L M A S F L H L L K
R E L A D Y E L S N E W I S M S P K
E T L A C T I L D W O D P O I T A L
M S L P M H R I A O A M A N M E C C
I E L O Y E C U L D A T U L O A A C
Y C D R O F X O U H E T E S E E M P
A I R O A B O B D T O I O R K O E C
R E E M N W M M E U L O R R H O L L
K L S A G E N A P O L W A R T H X H
O S O N O A M R B S T E S R O D A N
X I O O R U N L M V L K R S I C K G
M L T V A O O O W H T C L A U E I R
Solution
7 4 2 6 3 9 8 5 1
5 9 8 4 2 1 6 7 3
6 3 1 8 5 7 2 9 4
2 5 4 7 6 3 9 1 8
1 7 9 5 8 2 4 3 6
8 6 3 9 1 4 7 2 5
3 1 7 2 4 8 5 6 9
9 8 6 3 7 5 1 4 2
4 2 5 1 9 6 3 8 7
OKIE Magazine is YOUR community publication.
Submit your press releases and/or group events to editor@okiemangazine.com.
Page 44 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

Indie’s
Mixtape
a mishmash of music
Listen. Love. Hate. Suggest.
The Top 5 Selling Albums 2010
“Recovery”, Eminem . . . 3.4 million copies
“Need You Now”, Lady Antebellum
. . . 3.1 million copies
“Speak Now”, Taylor Swift . . . 3 million copies
“My World 2.0”, Justin Bieber
. . . 2.3 million copies
“The Gift”, Susan Boyle . . . 1.9 million copies
The Top 10 Singles for 2010
“California Gurls”, Katy Perry
(featuring Snoop Dogg) . . . 4.4 million copies
“Hey, Soul Sister”, Train . . . 4.3 million copies
“Love the Way You Lie”, Eminem
(featuring Rihanna) . . . 4.2 million copies
“Dynamite”, Taio Cruz . . . 4.1 million copies
“Airplanes”, B.o.B (featuring Hayley Williams)
. . . 4 million copies
“OMG”, Usher (featuring Will.I.Am)
. . . 3.8 million copies
“Not Afraid”, Eminem . . . 3.4 million copies
“Just the Way You Are”, Bruno Mars
. . . 3.3 million copies
“Break Your Heart”, Taio Cruz (featuring Ludacris) .
. . 3.2 million copies
“Need You Now”, Lady Antebellum
. . . 3.2 million copies
Pizza
Buffet Mini
Military
Night
State-of
-the-Art
Game
Room
Book Your
Birthday
Parties Now!
Bowling
Delivery
Available
Laser
Tag
TEXT Laugh Out Loud to 90210
for events & special promotional offers
ARE YOU A
GREAT
PERFORMER?
Come audition for a job
you'll love! Call 536-4FUN
for audition dates!
OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 45

Confessions of an Audiophile By Amy Merchant
Sta Writer
Audiophile:
When your priorities about enjoying music goes beyond
the norm. Like selling a car to buy a turntable.
I was set to write this month’s column about love
songs. Valentine’s Day inspires more mix “tapes” and
YouTube dedication videos than Twilight. When looking
around to see what were some of the greatest love songs of all time, the unthinkable happened for me. I had a break up. A major
break up. Suddenly I was skipping past “You Are So Beautiful To Me” and racing to the angry songs of unrequited love and heartache.
Screw all those stupid songs! I hate Valentine’s Day! Let’s be angry! These were my new mantras. I decided to look into break
up songs. Angry, sad, morose and vengeful break up songs. The kind you
sing at karaoke when everyone but you, knows you have had one too many.
Yup, those kinds of songs.
So, the following songs, after careful consideration make up the best
break up mix. If you need to tear this article out and put in your journal, there
will be no judgment from me. Just mad props. You never know when you’ll
need this.
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight-The Postal Service. The opening
track off of their EP, singer Ben Gibbard’s (Death Cab for Cutie) voice with
harmonies from Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) provide the perfect somber mood.
Break up lyric: “I am finally seeing why I was the one worth leaving”
Funhouse-Pink. With one of the most sung about break ups from Carey
Hart, most people would have picked So What or Please Don’t Leave Me,
but I think this song heavy on marital imagery deserves its due. Break up
lyric: “I dance around this empty house, tear us down, throw you out”
Sugar, We’re Going Down-Fall Out Boy. Not the biggest fan of Fall Out
Boy, the first time I heard this song, I said “this is clever song writing. I love the line “Sugar, we’re going down swinging” but let’s face
it the break up lyric is : “I’m just a notch in your bedpost, but you’re just a line in a song”
Love Don’t Love Nobody-The Spinners. With a title like that and with one of the great R&B voices, Phillipe Wynne, at the helm,
you know it’s time to grab your drink and hold your cigarette lighter in the air. Break up lyric: “It takes a fool to learn, Yes sir, That
love don’t love nobody”
You Give Love A Bad Name-Bon Jovi. Ahh, now we come to one of those karaoke songs. Your mascara is smudged, making
you look like a cross between Ke$ha and Courtney Love. A few songs back someone sang “Before He Cheats” and so you did back
to back to back Jaeger-Bombs and became inspired to turn in this ditty. You wake up to an email that says “So and So has tagged
you in a video”. No break up lyric needed.
I Loved You, So What-Ani DiFranco. This is a song that during a break up, can change your attitude. DiFranco displays some of
her best songwriting here. Usually frenetic in her musicianship, she is much more mellow with the realization that the relationship is
over. Break up lyric: (try the whole first chorus) “And who are you now?And who were you then? Like you thought somehow,
You could just pretend, You could figure it all out, The mathematics of regret, So it takes two beers to remember, now,
And five to forget I loved you so. Yeah I loved you, so what”
Tyrone-Erykah Badu. Badu’s tribute to mooching men is, simply put, brilliant. This is the anthem for the fed up woman. Invite
your girlfriends over, have cosmos and sing along. Break up lyric: “You betta call Tyrone...Hold on, but you can’t use my phone”
Ain’t No Sunshine-Bill Withers. The gorgeous , mournful tone of Wither’s voice let’sus know, know, know, know that he is watching
out of the window for her return. The long series of “I know’s”gets desperate at the end, proving that “this house just ain’t a
home”.
Tracks of My Tears-Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Piercing eyes, a voice of silk and light years ahead of his peers in his
songwriting skills, Smokey paints the image of someone trying to hold it together better than anyone. This classic song has been
covered by almost every genre but the original never disappoints. Break up lyric: “My smile is my make up, I wear since my
break up with you.”
You Oughta Know-Alanis Morissette. The ultimate break up song. Morissette verbalizes what everyone else wants to say. Raw,
visceral and perfect, this song is filled with so many great lines but if I had to choose one break up lyric that I shout while I driving,
I would choose “‘Cause the joke that you laid in the bed That was me and I’m not gonna fade As soon as you close your
eyes, and you know it”
There you go, ten break up songs that will make all the difference...well they did for me. I just walked away from the last Jaeger-
Bomb.
Page 46 www.okiemagazine.com OKIE MAGAZINE

OKIE MAGAZINE www.okiemagazine.com Page 47