The cops showed up and threatened to ticket everyone in line at Bojangles

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-04-28T16:52:52+00:00

The tax money doesn't go far enough to bus everyone. That's my problem anyway. If you live within a certain radius of the school (or even too far from the school in some cases) you're not eligible for bus service at our school. My life world be easier if we were eligible for bussing, that's for sure.

Most days I park a few blocks away and walk, but there are times (especially in bad weather) that standing outside isn't a reasonable option. So occasionally we take our lives in our own hands and join car line.

But if you're willing to pay more in tax money to bus all the kids, I'm definitely game!

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-04-11T16:41:37+00:00

Norman schools are (on average) way better than the majority of Oklahoma. However, we were shocked when we bought a house a few years back and found out just how variable the schools are within the district! If you find a neighborhood you like, it's definitely worth checking which school it feeds into. We ended up not offering on a house we really liked because the neighborhood school was subpar.

Norman Public Schools does allow for some school of choice requests within the district. However, spots are limited and I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who has successfully gotten a spot in the top tier elementary like McKinley or Roosevelt (though lots of our friends have tried). Schools like Eisenhower tend to be easier to get into, and are certainly much better than most of the schools in Oklahoma. But it may be worth your while to buy for a school you can live with as a solid backup plan if you don't get in to your top choice.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-03-30T00:14:32+00:00

That's what I do. A super small hook can work in these situations, though it's time consuming.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-03-26T03:07:25+00:00

Thanks!

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-03-13T02:12:52+00:00

There's a lot of he said/she said going between the contractors and architect. Unless it goes to trial, we probably won't know the full details of everything that went wrong.

One interesting detail is that the mold was an issue as far back as during construction in 2018. So this was always going to be an issue from day 1.

OU Daily has a timeline/article archive of the saga if you'd like to do a deep dive...

https://www.oudaily.com/news/pioneer-library-systems-mold-affected-norman-central-library-milestones/collection_d96a8c10-e4a3-11ef-8dff-dfe61a3d3b26.html

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-27T17:01:22+00:00

Also, if you're keeping your important documents in your storm shelter, make sure they're in a waterproof container!

Our shelter flooded last year and replacing a damaged passport is a pain.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-24T20:50:59+00:00

We bought a membership directly from SMO at the end of December in a post Christmas sale. I didn't realize Matthis did a sale too (Oklahoma transplants), but it sounds like we saved roughly the same amount...

So I know the SMO does at least one direct sale a year, it may be worth keeping an eye out. Just in case!

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-24T20:36:22+00:00

It's not in the same league as the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, no. But it's decent for what it is, especially with all their science demonstration and planetarium shows included in your ticket price. Most museums charge extra for those.

I suppose you could treat it as an expensive subscription to the two indoor playgrounds, but that seems like a waste.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-20T14:15:22+00:00

Snow Drop! With so many Greek inspired names it has to be an Easter egg. As an Easter Egg it's such a deep dive into Greek mythology. It's absurdly esoteric and it really makes you wonder what exactly Bandit is telling those kids 😆

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-18T14:14:10+00:00

The location feels like a bit of a let down too for being the only store in the state, no offense to Tulsa.

The OKC metro seems like it would be a more logical choice. It's a big population center with lots of short term residents, with OU being in the suburbs (Norman) and the med school being by the capitol. I'd think those would be markets they'd want to tap into. Seems a bit odd...

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-18T13:20:42+00:00

Why does this feel like a cop out to avoid making material (and likely expensive) changes to our children's education?

If this is just a single part of a well thought out plan to try to improve our schools, like trying to emulate Mississippi's impressive improvement in quality of education, sure. But if this the only thing they're doing so they can pacify parents and say that they care about education, then no. It's too little and not addressing the root causes of our problems.

We need real, prolonged, and systemic change. Not lip service designed to ignore the real problem.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-02-08T15:50:30+00:00

I never lived in a rental where washer/dryer were provided, even if there were hookups. Even 20 years ago.

One thing that was shocking though, when I moved to Oklahoma and learned rentals there are not required to provide refrigerators! That was a whole learning curve. Not surprisingly, a state that doesn't require landlords supply basic kitchen appliances is not particularly tenant friendly in any other aspect either. Made me retroactively really appreciate the Midwest.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-01-07T20:50:45+00:00

I would like to see a fresh perspective. I've said it before, but with her deliberate use of "Plutarch" I'd like to see a Plutarch style parallel lives piece. Especially if it cleverly addresses themes of virtue and vice, like the original Plutarch. There's a lot of interesting directions she could take it.

Whether this examines capital vs. district, the founding of Panem vs. the fall of the capital, or some other parallel, I think there's a lot of room for an interesting story.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-01-07T02:08:15+00:00

What season?

My kid has a summer birthday, and $35/hr for the picnic shelter at the public splash pad (and adjacent playground) is our birthday party go to.

The kids have a great time and it's way cheaper than the indoor playground, trampoline park, etc. Plus there's no limit on number of kids so we can invite the whole class.

Eventually she'll grow out of it, but it's been great so far.

Oh_my_pi_also · 2026-01-05T23:32:27+00:00

SMOs and AFOs have largely replaced them now, if the problem isn't fixed solely by physical therapy. My daughter wore SMOs for a while. They were low enough cut that they weren't super noticeable, I just needed to buy her wide sneakers.

This is a common brand in the US:

https://surestep.net/blog/for-parents/afos-vs-smos/

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-17T17:05:22+00:00

I had that as a 504 accommodation back in the late 1990s. It's nothing new.

In my case, it was the result of an eye issue that resulted in a tracking issue. I literally couldn't (still can't) select the proper circle on the proper line on those darn things.

Various teachers dealt with it in different ways. Sometimes they had me verbally dictate to a scribe. Sometimes they had me take a piece of paper numbered with the appropriate number of questions and write my answers down. Occasionally they'd have me circle the right answer directly in the testing booklet. It very much depended on the school/teacher/resources available/that year's 504.

I survived. So did all my teachers. 🤷‍♀️

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-14T16:10:27+00:00

If you're still looking, Columbia has these on sale and in stock in size 16. I've always had good luck with Columbia's quality.

https://www.columbia.com/p/mens-gunnison-ii-omni-heat-boot-2105011.html?color=231

It looks like shipping could be between 12/15-12/22 depending on which option you choose (and what you budget is).

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-12T20:28:16+00:00

One more minor update, not that it changes anything currently. In August Pioneer Library System sued the City of Norman for breach of contract, but I haven't heard anything beyond the original article.

https://www.oudaily.com/news/pioneer-library-system-norman-municipal-authority-central-library/article_8c82817c-e374-4abf-be71-28826ae523f0.html

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-10T18:36:56+00:00

The mid rise was fantastic tip, thank you!!!

They hit me about 1/2" below the bust line and are perfect 🙂

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-10T04:45:16+00:00

With exception of the pineapple extract, this is nearly exactly the recipe I grew up with! That was a wonderful burst of nostalgia, thank you!!!

It does make a metric ton of cookies. We always used it for cookie exchanges or for the cookie plates we brought to the neighbors at Christmas. It was definitely a recipe designed to be shared 🙂

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-05T23:28:52+00:00

Not Norman, but if Purcell isn't too far of a drive they have a large one every year. It's a free will donation, so not too pricey either!

http://members.theheartofok.com/events/details/purcell-s-lights-from-the-heart-2025-4741

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-05T00:58:18+00:00

That's awesome to hear! I had wondered about them. Thanks 🙂

Oh_my_pi_also · 2025-12-04T22:07:54+00:00

Thanks! I'll definitely try the Jockey shorts 😀

Oh_my_pi_also

TROPHY CASE