Author Archives: The Senator's Wife

About The Senator's Wife

I started this blog on a whim thinking it would be fun to write about politics while my husband served in the OK State Senate. The jury's still out on that, but having a front row seat on the sideline of Oklahoma politics has been one big adventure.

Lala

Today, the Senator’s mother is celebrating her 83rd birthday! We call her Lala because it’s obvious Granny is not her style. Pictured above is a photo of Lala and the Senator’s dad in Havana, Cuba circa 1955. Lala got around. In fact, Lala still likes to travel whenever she gets the chance. She also likes to shop. Currently, her two local favorites to frequent are Jeromes and the Dollar Tree, but this has been known to fluctuate depending on the merchandise.

Lala calls herself ‘my darling mother-in-law’. This is not only true, but sounds even better when she refers to me as her ‘darling daughter-in-law! Lala has a great sense of humor. We also always joke about the Senator. If he forgets to return her call, then the Senator is ‘my husband’. If the Senator gets a law passed or sends her flowers on her birthday, then he is ‘her son’. We like to trade him back and forth like that and it works for me.

Speaking of flowers, I hope the Senator sent her some. Lala loves fresh flowers. When I was in the hospital giving birth to the Senator’s son, she swiped the gladiolas out of a vase from the restaurant across the street because she thought my hospital room needed a little sprucing up.

She is my darling mother-in-law and I adore her for so many reasons. Here are my top five:

1. She loves to decorate for the holidays, and I’m not just talking Christmas, but Valentines, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter….

2. She has saved all of the Senator’s childhood toys which includes everything from his building blocks and hot wheels to GI Joe’s and toy guns. He had some great toys.

3. She has us over for dinner every Sunday night which is one less meal I have to prepare.

4. She took me to Hong Kong and Bali. I mean, seriously, whose mother-in-law would do that!

5. She cooked me fish for dinner once and I cleaned my plate. This might not sound like a big deal unless you know that the sight and smell of anything fishy makes my skin crawl.

Aside from being the best mother-in-law any girl could dream up, she loves my Senator, and all of us for that matter, unconditionally. Thus she is not for sale or on loan under any circumstances. I know a good thing when I have it!

Happy Birthday LaLa!

Love, your darling daughter-in-law, the Senator’s Wife

All in a days work…

It must be rough to work down at the Capitol! My Senator got to hang out with the Heisman Trophy winner twice in a twenty-four hour period of time. The first time they spoke Cherokee and I took a photo. This week at the marble palace…well, the Senator’s expression speaks volumes.

He also had his picture taken with the almost National Championship team…

And….

Um, not sure the Senator knew who the Flaming Lips were, but he does now!

I’m glad you had a nice day at the office dear! Being a public official must be excruciating at times.

Love, the Senator’s Wife

Will he or won’t he…

…be home for dinner?

This is a recent photo of the Senator grinding meat for his tenderloin chili recipe. Sometimes he cooks this for friends, or a church supper club or a special occasion because it’s tenderloin chili and absolutely delicious. It is his very special recipe. His own little creation. It’s even been published in a cook book because it includes real tenderloin not just ground up chili meat which is what makes it so special. Promise.

The reason I’m posting this photo is because it reminds me of the good ol’ days when my Senator actually made it home in time for dinner. During the legislative session, the chances of my Senator joining us are slim to none. Probably not gonna happen.

When he was first elected, I used to cook dinner hoping for the best case scenario which would have him flying through the back door just as dinner was served. I would even go to the trouble of cooking something he really might enjoy after a hard day at the Capitol which typically resulted in a messy kitchen, no Senator and tons of left overs. Just to prove my point and for the record, the Senator has been home for dinner once (OK, maybe twice) in the past MONTH at which time he brought his friends along with him! We’re not holding that against him or anything. I’m just saying he is a public servant and dinner is simply an extension of his work day.

Regardless, dinner with the Senator during session is never a guarantee. We never really know his status, it is always fluid and one must master the art of graceful flexibility. It’s not like I enjoy cooking or anything, that is a completely different post…I just enjoy his company.

Bon Appetite,

The Senator’s Wife