Murder at the B&B
The Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie, OK provides charm and mystery,
As part of my birthday gift, we opted for an overnight stay in the upstairs Bordello Suite. It was comfortably furnished with a high king-size bed and a sitting area (a former sun porch) and private bathroom. The creaky floors added to the atmosphere of antiquity and mystery.
A week prior to the event, we received our instructions and roles for the Murder Mystery. Upon arrival at the Stone Lion Inn we checked in, were given our parts and were shown to our room. We unpacked and looked over our ‘scripts,’ which we had been instructed not to share with anyone, not even each other. We changed into our ‘costumes’ to add to the setting of the 1920’s.
Once we went downstairs to join the other participants, we were in character for the remainder of the evening. While enjoying hors d’oevres and drinks, we met the other characters as they arrived. Next came a delicious dinner, with lots of conversation in character.
Following dinner, everyone moved to the living room for the mystery to evolve. A young woman (an employee) entered as a fortune-teller and began to ‘narrate’ the story. Before too long, one character excused herself to go to the powder room, and was next seen ‘dead,’ murdered by one of the other people in the living room.
Each character had speaking parts that served to develop the mystery, and the personality of each person in character added to the entertainment. In other words, each person brought his/her own personality to the part (along with the ‘spirits’ they had brought to drink for the evening).
When the script had been completed, dessert was served back in the dining room. The men and women then separated – the men staying in the dining room while the women adjourned back to the living room – to decide who in fact was the murderer. After a short period of discussion resulting in a decision by each group, the men re-joined the women and the fortune teller led the discussion to see which group had solved the mystery. The women were wise and came up with the correct solution!
Those who were not spending the night at the Stone Lion Inn (several other bed-and-breakfast establishments provide lodging in Guthrie for those who can’t stay at the Stone Lion) then departed.
The next morning a lovely gourmet breakfast was served, along with the history of the Stone Lion and other mysteries. This is a novel experience, and one that would be enhanced by going with a group of friends.
The Big 12 Championship!
"Jerry's World," site of the Big 12 Championship game. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman.
OU against the other Big Red – Nebraska. Nebraska’s final game as a member of the Big 12 – a game that makes the history books of sports? Over-priced tickets and even a parking pass to see the game at “Jerry’s World” in Arlington, Texas. How exciting is that?!
Just being inside the new Texas Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play is awesome. The scoreboard/video suspended from the roof is huge. The atmosphere inside the covered stadium is what big games are made of. So, it sounds like the perfect trip to take.
After the last trip to an OU football game in Texas, we made absolutely sure the tickets were in hand! And we had lots of help with that, as we got numerous e-mails and text messages from family and friends to remind us!
By the time we arrived, had lunch with family and drove to our son’s house in Arlington to rest up for the game, however, my husband began feeling sick. “What?! You don’t feel well? Lie down and sleep and you’ll feel fine in an hour.”
Of course, that didn’t remedy the problem; so some meds and bed were the only course of action to take.
2010 Big 12 Champions. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman.
Now what?! Two over-priced tickets and a parking pass going to waste? Not on your life. No, I didn’t desert him and go by myself; but I did contact a friend we were planning to meet at the game and was able to get the tickets to him. And he was able to sell the tickets at the game for us. True, we didn’t get our money back, but at least we got some return for our purchase!
Watching the game on TV can’t compare with being in Texas Stadium, needless to say, but we were lucky to have a back-up plan for the tickets. The street price versus the original cost for them didn’t balance, but a big OU win definitely softened the sting!
Season ticket setback
If you are a FANatic, like my husband and I, you have been getting e-mails about buying college baseball season tickets, soccer season tickets, etc. But before we know it, it will be time to purchase season tickets for the 2011 FOOTBALL season, even though the 2010 season is just over! I learned something about season tickets this year, though, that I hadn’t experienced before:
Ticket for 2010 Red River Rivalry
An OU season ticket does not necessarily qualify you for a ticket to the OU-Texas Red River Rivalry game. But more importantly, having a ticket does not get you through the gate — unless it is in your hand!
This last October we set out in the morning the day before the game with all our OU-logo gear and binoculars, etc., ready for a fun weekend, beginning with a Friday night dinner with family in Fort Worth.
We stopped at Gainesville for a rest break, and as we headed back for the car, my husband asked me if I wanted to go to the game or wanted to watch it on TV at our son’s house. I thought he’d lost his mind! Then he asked me where the game tickets were. “Holy smokes! They are sitting on your bedroom chest!” I moaned.
We immediately called the OU Athletic Ticket Office to see how we could pick up replacements. It turns out that the only way you can do that is to show up, show your ID, and pay the full price for another set! It didn’t take a genius to figure out that we weren’t going to do that!
So, back in the car, drive back to Edmond, get the tickets, change clothes and drive back to Fort Worth. We arrived at the restaurant just in time for our dinner reservation, ready to unwind and begin our weekend!
The good news? We learned a valuable lesson – and OU beat Texas!! Learn from our experience – always be sure you have your tickets BEFORE you leave the house!
