Homerun for the Homeless: VIDEO! (Watch Only If You Enjoy Stories of Childhood Humiliation)

I hope you'll consider supporting me and my grand-slamming ways by donating to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless on my page on the Homerun for the Homeless website. Every little bit counts - you'd be surprised by what the Day Center can do with just $1.

It's amazing, really. Thanks to their efforts, you don't need to give a lot to help a lot.

But, if I'm the first participant in the game to raise $1,000, I get a trophy. And I like trophies. I like trophies a lot. So any support you could lend, I'd appreciate it.

Also, I'll let you hold the trophy. Hope you won't mind washing your hands first.

See you at the ball game!

What: Homerun for the Homeless Celebrity Fundraiser Baseball Game
When: Thursday, June 24, gates at 6pm, game at 7pm
Where: ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave.
How much: Tickets are $5; Kids under 12 get in free (yay, free!)

Wine, Women & Shoes. Wanna Go? Win tickets here.

UPDATE//Ladies and gentlemen, we have some winners!

I love how you all never go easy on me in these contests - you know, the ones in which I ask you to pour out your heart and soul for everyone, including lots and lots of strangers, to see.

I really appreciate you all for doing that. I was touched by what each of you had to say about the amazing women in your life, and each was another reminder to me why I love blogging so much. Hearing your stories and the tales of your experiences is such a pleasure.

Though I want to give each and every one of you a ticket to the swank that's gonna go down at Wine, Women and Shoes this weekend, I said I'd pick the author of my favorite story as a winner, and that Random.org could choose a winner, too.

So, here was the story I chose:

The remarkable woman depicted in this story aside - because all of the women about whom the contestants wrote are remarkable in their own way, and I wasn't about to judge these stories based on some presumptuous quantification of their merits - I enjoyed how this story read almost like a tall tale, like a portrait of Super Mom, and how the numbers - 11 births, 9 children, 5 potatoes and a hand full of cheese - painted a picture in my mind.

So, Sunshine, e-mail me ASAP with which night you'd like to attend Wine, Women and Shoes. Congrats!

And now for the Random.org winner: Contestant No. 5!

Wow. I really love Brigid's story, too. E-mail me and we'll get you squared away with tickets.

Again, thanks to everyone so, so much for playing. Send love to those amazing women in your lives.
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Now that you have your plans for this weekend all sorted out (or, if you don't, this link is an easy way to fix that), let's think about next weekend for a minute or five.

About the post title - no, this isn't a rich Frenchman's if-you-were-trapped-on-a-desert-island request. In fact, it's one of my favorite Tulsa fundraisers, and it's all to support YWCA Tulsa. The name tells a lot about why I'm so crazy about this event.

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Dining Out For Life: We Want You

Looking for a way to have fun, get a great meal and make a difference in your community Thursday night?

There's a way, and that way is Dining out for Life.

Participating restaurants will donate a portion of your bill to pay for local HIV services provided by H.O.P.E. Their generosity coupled with your donation will make a very real difference in the lives of thousands of men, women, and children throughout the Tulsa community.

As in, contrary to weirdos and lore, AIDS isn't a problem just for the gay community. Hello, it affects everyone, from the old to the young, from gay to straight. H.O.P.E. provides testing and information services about this life-changing disease, and it needs your support to ensure that no one faces HIV alone.

Plenty of Tulsa restaurants decided that raising money for this cause would be a really, really good thing - 15 of them, in fact, and each of them is donating at least 25 percent of their proceeds to H.O.P.E.

Whole Foods Market (H.O.P.E. is the Bag Refund Recipient April 12-May 9, so don't forget your reusable bags when you grocery shop!)
Shades of Brown (donating 50 percent all day long - go, Shades!)
Baxter's Interurban Grill (dinner)
Caz's Chowhouse (lunch)
Cosmo Cafe (dinner)
Dalesandro's (dinner)
El Guapo's Cantina (dinner)
Elote Cafe and Catering (dinner)
India Palace (dinner)
KEO (lunch)
KoKoa Chocolatier (all day - woot!)
Lambrusco'z To Go (dinner)
McNellie's Public House (dinner)
White Lion Pub (dinner)
Yokozuna (dinner)

The only one that matters to you right now, though, is Dilly Deli, at 2nd and Elgin. Because that's where I'm gonna be, along with the hilarious and snarky Kate Huggins of Fox 23.

Dining Out for Life features several local celebrities (why they asked me, I don't know) dining at the participating restaurants, but there's a friendly competition going on between Nicole Nascenzi and Sunny Leigh from KVOO, who will be the celebrity diners at Elote Cafe and Catering, and Kate Huggins and I at Dilly Deli. While Elote rocks and is one of my favorite restaurants ever, you can eat there Friday night. Or tonight. Or, heck, even Saturday night. Just make sure that you dine at Dilly Deli with Dine Out for Life with Kate and me Thursday night.

What I'm trying to say is, I'll make it worth your while.

The person to bring the most diners with him/her to Dilly Deli for Dine Out for Life gets from me a $50 gift certificate to the Dining Out for Life participating restaurant of his or her choice. To enter, simply say hi to Kate and me at Dilly Deli and let us know how many folks you brought to dinner. If you're the party animal of the evening, I'll crown you with some cold, hard, local Tulsa restaurant cash.

If you're unable to dine out Thursday night but would still like to help with the cause, forward your name to Dining Out for Life and they'll call to chat with you about how you'd like to do that.

See you all Thursday night!

Earth Day: Bountiful Earth, Empty Bowls

Tomorrow is Earth Day, Tulsa, and you know what that means - it's time for the Empty Bowls event at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

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Tonight's the Night: A Big Night in Tulsa

Between Tim McGraw and opening night at ONEOK Field, Tulsa's gonna be hopping tonight.

But just in case you didn't get Tim McGraw tickets, or in the event you find yourself considering watching the Drillers game through the fence because you missed out on tickets there, too, check out this list of killer events.

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Hanson Leads One Day Without Shoes Walk in Tulsa

Coming up tomorrow is the One Day Without Shoes event, a day spent in awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life. All day you'll see folks all over town walking around without a thing protecting their feet from the sidewalk, street or grass below, all in an effort to experience life without shoes first hand, and to inspire others and increase awareness at the same time.

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Art:UNTAMED 2010 Opens at Joe Momma's Downtown Tonight

The Tulsa Zoo made a splash in the art world last year with its art exhibition Art: UNTAMED, a collection of art pieces created by the animals of Tulsa Zoo, whether with paw, trunk or paintbrush.

The notion of a Penguin Picasso or a Meerkat Monet may seem bold and unusual, but art is actually a big part of many Tulsa Zoo animals' routines. Painting provides enrichment and activity that keeps animals nimble and amused, from the Elephant Yard to Chimp Connection.

The latest collection of these animal avant-garde creations will be revealed at Joe Momma’s downtown this month. Don't miss your chance to see the stunning masterpieces from such artsy animals as Sooky the elephant, Gary the Guinea Hog and the poignant final impression of the Tulsa Zoo's polar bear, Kavek.

Tonight, from 6-9 p.m., the art enthusiasts behind the counter at Joe Momma’s are helping present this latest collection in style. Look for live music by Ali Harter and a wine tasting - you know, really swanky stuff, but with pizza.

Just the way I like my charitable social functions.

As you plan your weekend, take note that this Saturday's Momma's book club, an event that brings kids and parents together through books, pizza and crafts at Joe Momma's each and every week, will feature the Tulsa Zoo, including a special offer on Tulsa Zoo Friend memberships. Get there before 11:30 to ensure you'll have a table - this event packs out both dining rooms at JM pretty much every week.

The first installation of Art: UNTAMED nearly sold out. Art and animal lovers snapping up these pieces that inspire wonder, conversation and, most importantly, the chance to educate others about these fascinating animals. Having one of these paintings hanging in your home or at your business not only adds pizzazz, but it also represents a commitment to building a better zoo.

I don't know about y'all, but I think Nacho has to be pretty much the best name for an alligator, ever.

In case you didn't know, the Tulsa Zoo is located in Mohawk Park on 36th Street North, just east of Sheridan. The zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors age 65 and older and $4.00 for children age 3-11; children 2 and under and Zoo Friends members are free. Zoo Friends memberships, which come with free zoo admission, can pay for themselves after just a few visits - call (918) 669-6600 or visit The Zoo on the Web to find out more or to become a membership.