“Premier” is written all over this event, and we should know. Oklahoma Magazine presents the 2014 Oklahoma Wedding Show, Saturday, Jan. 18, at Central Park Hall at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. The annual soiree invites brides-to-be to visit with elite wedding industry professionals as well as to sample work by wedding photographers, caterers, florists, bakers and many more. Get answers to your questions about venues, entertainment, receptions and so much more, and don’t forget about the bridal fashions runway show featuring some of the most gorgeous gowns of the season by top labels. Plan to stay a while: Throughout the day, drawings will be held for amazing items and packages totaling more than $12,000 from our generous vendors. What will you win? There’s only one way to find out. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Read more about your VIP experience at www.okmag.com.
While many might consider the beginning of a new year primarily a chance to work on self-improvement resolutions, it is also a good time to review one’s finances and to make plans for the coming year. Arguably, it might be more important this year than many others.
“The number one thing, and all new this year, is the whole healthcare situation,” says Dean Hudgeons, senior vice president and location manager for Arvest Bank. “People will need to assess their personal situations because it appears almost all people are going to be paying more with higher costs and co-pays. People need to budget for more healthcare expenses, particularly if they have a pre-existing condition or needs. If you normally have $1,000 set aside for medical expenses, you might want to look at increasing that to $1,500 or $2,000, because healthcare expenses are likely to affect 50 percent of Americans.
“The biggest issue,” he continues, “is that 70 percent of Baby Boomers don’t have enough money for retirement, and healthcare costs are really going to hurt these people.”
Secondly, Hudgeons says he still sees people living with too much debt. “People started to shave off debt after 2008, which is a good thing, but many still have too much debt. It’s a good idea to refocus on getting all debt cut down, except a mortgage if you have a good rate. If you do have a good rate, try to pay off other debts.”
Hudgeons’ third suggestion is less finance and more strategy.
“Start having family meetings once a month to remind family members of financial goals,” he says. “You can make it fun. We do graphs so kids can understand what they’re getting for what they’re giving up. Besides reminding the family of goals, you also celebrate achieving them. When you celebrate milestones, it helps keep everyone focused. Get together and discuss goals and strategy. One of the major mistakes of my grandparents’ generation was that they never discussed money.”
When it comes to reviewing one’s personal financial holdings, Hudgeons says, “The bond markets are places that make me nervous now. People on a fixed income are caught between a rock and a hard place. People living off their holdings are having a hard time because interest rates haven’t increased. The bond market has taken a big hit. People have gotten used to seeing bond rates increase. This year, they have seen their principles go down.”
Hudgeons says one way to gain income is to find good dividend-paying stocks.
“In terms of investment sectors, Hudgeons says energy is difficult to invest in because energy prices are down. He advises to look into sectors into which money is pouring, such as healthcare and biotechnology in particular.
Still, Hudgeons says his biggest fear is that people will hand pick individual companies in which to invest. “Unless you’re Warren Buffett and you’re analyzing data all the time, it’s better to let professionals help you make choices. It’s too dangerous otherwise,” he says. “However, I think we’re in an emotional stage now where people are focused on saving and putting money away.”
Proper analysis and planning early in the year can help make for a smoother financial 2014.
Author Aaron Goldfarb isn’t doing too badly. His last book, How To Fail: A Self-Hurt Guide, has sold more than 100,000 copies. He contributes regularly to Esquire and chronicles his adventures as a beer aficionado on his website, The Vice Blog. The 34-year-old Oklahoma City native currently resides in the Big Apple, awaiting the release of his next project, SEAL Leadership: How To Run Your Organizations the Navy SEAL Way, co-written with ex-SEAL Mark McGinnis.
“I get random emails everyday from people who loved How To Fail. I get invited to all sorts of weird events and places, including West Point, to talk. It’s been taught at colleges. And now pretty much anybody will answer my emails or phone calls. It’s touched some lives and it’s opened a few doors for me. I’m happy. Also, breweries send me lots of free beer and booze in the mail, which is probably the best perk.”
The Putnam City North graduate came to New York City by way of Syracuse University, where he majored in filmmaking. Pursuing his dream of being a screenwriter, he optioned his first script the year after he graduated. It was never produced. Neither were the 16 that followed, though they were optioned, as well. He knew he was doing something right, and the bills were getting paid, but the Hollywood scene became a grind. Slaving over spec scripts that never saw the big screen. Endless meetings. Relentless schmoozing.
Enough was enough, Goldfarb decided, and he turned his attention to writing books. He chose well.
“Screenplays aren’t really writing to me. They’re a more technical art form where you first master format and then paint by numbers within that format. Obviously, books can be anything you can possibly imagine. They’re easier to get made – and get made the way you want them to. It takes dozens – if not hundreds – of people to get a movie made. It takes only zero to a few people to get a book published. It’s one of the great things about the current state of the book market. If you’ve got something to say, there’s no excuse – not lack of money, not lack of support, not anything – for not getting your art into the world.”
Goldfarb’s passions – writing and beer – collided in 2012 with his “30 Bars in 30 Days Tour.” It was then, and remains now, an unconventional approach to book promotion. He felt strongly that he wouldn’t find his audience at bookstore signings, and being a new author, he didn’t want to be that guy behind a card table with a stack of books and no line for signatures. So he packed up his stack and toured bars around the country to spread the word. He hit the mark and, in the process, found a lot more good beers than are available at the typical Barnes & Noble.
The final stop on his tour was, of course, Oklahoma City. The adventures of How To Fail’s hero, Stu, are nihilistic and flat out racy. Goldfarb was unsure of how Stu’s shenanigans and tomfoolery would be received in his hometown, a fairly conservative place. There was no need to worry. The stop at Oklahoma City’s Belle Island Brewery brought out a lot of people and sold a big chunk of his stack of books.
Georges Rouault is one of those painters from the early 1900s who helped master a new expression in art. If that was all there was to say of him, it would still make an exhibition such as Georges Rouault: Through a Glass, Darkly something noteworthy and worth jotting on your planner. Philbrook Museum of Art brings the work of the influential French painter to Tulsa. The exhibit opens Sunday, Jan. 19, and runs through April 20. This special collection contains works demonstrative of Rouault’s signature style. His pieces whether of religious subjects or lighter imagery and portraiture often use the characteristic heavy black outlining, prismatic colors and composition that many suggest resembles stained glass. And like glass, his works are both reflective and transformative of light. Philbrook is located at 2727 S. Rockford Road, Tulsa. For more, visit www.philbrook.org.
The start of a new year can only mean one thing to an artist used to the feel of miles under his boot heels, and John Fullbright is most definitely no stranger to the road. The Bearden native who has made it his habit to play local and regional stages, even after being nominated for a Grammy Award last year, has his itinerary mapped out, as usual. Lucky for those in and around Bartlesville, Fullbright has made Frank & Lola’s among one of his earliest stops in 2014. Presented by OK Mozart’s Original Artist Concert Series, Fullbright will play the venue at 200 S.E. Second St., Bartlesville, on Sunday, Jan. 26, and Monday, Jan. 27. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night with special guest artists John Calvin (Sunday) and Wink Burcham (Monday) as well as appetizers and beer and wine, all for $35 each. Get your tickets, and get them fast, at www.okmozart.com.
It can be easy to dismiss an entertainer of some longevity – even one of the caliber of Tony Bennett – and say the best days are behind him. But it wouldn’t be true. Just as one of Bennett’s signature songs goes, “The best is yet to come.”
Beginning his mercurial career just after World War II, Bennett has witnessed six decades of music and watched recording artists and pop stars alike come and go. Few possess staying power to match. Most did not. From his vantage point, Bennett has the benefit of not just experience but also study of our music culture. If anyone can see the tides clearly, it’s him.
Perhaps more than any other popular entertainer, Bennett has kept the standards relevant, recalling another age of music that bore legends like Lena Horne and Frank Sinatra, while actively continuing his career beyond that golden age. Through such efforts as his Duets album and the 2011 follow-up Duets II, Bennett has encouraged new talent through collaborations on timeless songs. Duets II features arrangements showcasing Bennett with Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Michael Bublé and the late Amy Winehouse, among others.
Bennett won’t be alone for his upcoming show in Tulsa, either.
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center welcomes Bennett to the Chapman Music Hall stage at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19. Joining him in the spotlight will be Bennett’s daughter, jazz singer Antonia Bennett, for a special performance on a special night for music fans of all ages.
Tickets are $54-$114 and available online at www.myticketoffice.com as well as by phone at 800.364.7111. The Tulsa PAC is located at 101 E. Third St. in downtown Tulsa. To read more, visit www.tulsapac.com.
Members of the Whiteside Portrait Painters work on portraits of Rabbi Charles Sherman. Photo by Natalie Green.
The Notable Tulsans Series, on display in the Whiteside Portrait Gallery at the Tulsa Historical Society Museum, is an ongoing exhibit featuring a collection of portraits of notable Tulsans. The series offers museum visitors a greater knowledge and appreciation for Tulsa’s history and the people that have helped make Tulsa what it is today, says Maggie Brown, exhibits and education manager at Tulsa Historical Society.
“Each exhibit tells a different Tulsa story,” shares Brown.
Inspired by similar portrait projects across the country, the Notable Tulsans Series is a partnership between the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum and the Whiteside Portrait Painters, an informal collection of artists. The artists hope the series helps preserve the history of Tulsa by highlighting the impact of influential members of the community, explains Patricia Vestal, a Whiteside portrait painter.
“We embarked on painting portraits that would serve as a social commentary on our city,” says Vestal. “We hoped to portray people in all walks of life and occupations who have given the city its unique spirit.”
The Whiteside Portrait Gallery features a new collection every two months. The unique style of each artist combined with the diverse background of the models adds to the impact of the exhibit, comments Brown.
“Each series of paintings is interesting, historically, for the subject; and artistically, for the variety of styles and mediums used,” explains Brown. “The grouped portraits allow visitors to see a dozen or more views of the same individual as well as biographical information.”
The Notable Tulsans Series has featured 20 influential Tulsans, beginning with novelist and educator Billie Letts. The latest collection features Rabbi Charles Sherman, a 2005 Tulsa Hall of Fame honoree.
The Notable Tulsan Series portraits are on display at the Tulsa Historical Society Museum Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“A place for everything and everything in its place.”
It’s a tidy phrase and an aspiring maxim. There are those who live by it, and then there are the rest of us. Whether you’re plagued by a chaotic work desk, an overflowing guest room or an entire house in disarray, your stuff isn’t just taking up space – it may be impacting your health and crowding out your happiness.
“People who are chronically disorganized suffer emotionally, physically, socially and in their career,” says Dr. Lindsay Patterson, a clinical psychologist at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Tulsa. “Maintaining a minimum level of organization and structure allows people to be more productive and efficient in the use of their ‘work’ time.”
According to Patterson, clutter competes for attention and, while it serves as a distraction, steals energy, slows progress and affects creativity. She notes that successful people are generally organized. They plan, prioritize and streamline work to accomplish desired goals, which leads to greater productivity and potential career advancement.
She explains that disorganization has been linked to mounting stress, and everyday challenges, such as searching for lost keys, evokes a stress response.
“The limbic system fires up as if there were a tiger outside the door. Blood pressure rises, heart and respiration increase, stress hormones are released and your immune system slows down,” says Patterson. “If you wake up late, can’t find your keys, don’t have your clothes and breakfast on hand, it sets off a chain reaction of nervous tension.”
It’s this kind of scenario that can set the tone for your entire day.
“Your stress level peaks, and you become scattered, tense and irritable,” she says. “When your world is confused, your mind feels muddled. You are less decisive and productive, which may contribute to a slide toward depression.”
Patterson shares examples of common disorganization that can lead to undue stress.
“In a household, misplacing bills, especially when that leads to paying late fees, and replacing lost items have negative consequences on the individual and the family,” she says. “If disorganization means missed doctor appointments and medication, that affects one’s health.”
Often disorganization will cause a person to miss opportunities for healthy activities, such as exercising, enjoying a hobby or relaxing with friends.
“On a physical level, organized people are generally healthier – better blood flow and less inflammation,” adds Patterson. “Less fats, sugars and stress hormones (cortisol) are released into the blood stream, better physical processing keeps the body functioning, which helps beat back chronic conditions, physical and mental illnesses.”
When Clutter Escalates
So why do people choose to live in chaos? Anne Spero, a certified professional organizer and owner of Organized Living, a professional organizing service in Tulsa, has some insight. She has been featured on The Learning Channel’s documentary show, Hoarding: Buried Alive, and is also a chronic disorganization and hoarding specialist. She says there are various reasons why people become disorganized. She categorizes the causes into four areas: medical, situational, choice and non-instinctive.
“Most of my clients are chronically disorganized, which means they have struggled with organization their entire lives,” she says. “They have had numerous failed self-help attempts, and it impedes the quality of their daily lives.”
She often finds that these individuals have been diagnosed with conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression or other medical issues.
Situational disorganization is triggered by a traumatic or overwhelming life event, such as a death, divorce, birth or a move. People become overwhelmed by a situation and have trouble putting everything back in order. Other individuals have the ability to organize but choose not to because they procrastinate, are too busy, dislike it or would prefer to hire out the service. And then there are those who Spero says, “just do not have the natural knack for order.”
She says these last two types can usually maintain the organization systems once they are put into place. However, those afflicted with hoarding need additional professional help.
Patterson explains that while ADD, depression, chronic pain and grief can lead to a buildup of clutter, at its extreme, compulsive hoarding develops.
“Brain scans show that hoarders do have differences in the area of the brain involved in decision-making and planning,” she says. “In addition to difficulty making decisions, they do seem to experience actual pain in getting rid of something. I have heard it compared to the pain of a paper cut.”
She also highlights that “true clutter is not the same as having all the supplies or components for a project around you. True clutter is likely to be dirty – collecting dust, breeding germs, providing hiding places for bugs, mice and worse.”
Fortunately, the majority of people do not fall into this category, and the silver lining is that organization can be learned.
“If people are aware that their lack of organization is a problem, they should ask for help,” says Patterson.
She proposes reaching out to friends and family, gaining guidance from books and online resources, or accessing professional help through time management courses, professional organizers, therapists and executive coaches.
“The basic teaching is how to group, sort, set priorities and discard items. We commonly teach people to use a three-box strategy: keep, donate or sell and trash,” says Patterson.
In her work with clients, Spero believes it’s important for people to know that it’s okay to admit where they struggle.
“Telling them it’s normal to be embarrassed and ashamed but asking for and admitting the need help is the first major step,” says Spero. “People are more likely these days to come out with their disorganization issues, than ever before. That kinship with others opens the doors to allow purging, organizing, cleansing and healing to occur.”
Get Organized!
Spero offers the following advice to help people get started.
An organized spaced should be…
• Pleasing to the eye;
• Have useful items within reach;
• Have unrelated items placed elsewhere; and
• Be easy to maintain.
Spero also teaches her clients an easy acronym that was originally coined by professional organizer, Julie Morgenstern – SPACE: Sort, Purge, Assign a home, Containerize, Equalize (maintain). She adds that it’s essential to continually reassess progress in an effort to not become too overwhelmed and to also give yourself credit for every achievement, big or small. – RF
Photos by Natalie Green..jpg)
Photo by Keith Edleman.
It can be easy to dismiss an entertainer of some longevity – even one of the caliber of Tony Bennett – and say the best days are behind him. But it wouldn’t be true. Just as one of Bennett’s signature songs goes, “The best is yet to come.”
Photos by Natalie Green..jpg)
Members of the Whiteside Portrait Painters work on portraits of Rabbi Charles Sherman. Photo by Natalie Green.
