Transcript Staff Writer

No one ever accused Norman of being boring or bland.

At least not yet -- and lots of Normanites want to keep it that way.

That's what inspired Transcript message board poster Dan Sorrells to take an irreverent and playful poke at a much different north Oklahoma City suburb by printing "Don't Edmond my Norman" bumper stickers, which this week went flying out of the Earth at 309 S. Flood Ave.

The free black-and-white stickers and grassroots campaign apparently struck a chord.

It's only natural for Oklahoma City's two largest 'burbs to have a healthy rivalry, and even though they share some similarities -- both have major universities, quaint downtowns and a significant amount of Oklahoma City commuters -- they couldn't be more different.

While Norman has a reputation of being intellectual, artsy and quirky with an eclectic mix of liberals and conservatives, to the aforementioned Normanites, Edmond has a reputation of being upscale, ultra-conservative, quiet and maybe a bit snobby.

And although they might try to deny it -- Edmond has a reputation of being, well, boring, with lots of Edmondites liking their town just that way.

Wednesday, there were a small handful left of "Don't Edmond my Norman" stickers.

"Here's a couple of dollars," said one woman as she picked up one of the last remaining stickers. "Give them to the guy who printed these."

But now they're all gone. More are reportedly being printed.

Sorrells said he doesn't have anything against Edmond, which he calls a "nice town." Nice -- but bland.

"I don't want to poke (Edmond) too hard. But it's kind of fun ... If it makes us think just a little bit ... then I'm happy with it," he said. "We're not trying to be mean about it, it's just kind of a little playful thing."

Sorrells has a health care consulting business that does logistical and operational support for different kinds of health care entities. But -- perhaps tellingly -- he's also a guy who used to bake bread at the legendary Lovelight Restaurant and Bakery on Campus Corner.

He said the inspiration for "Don't Edmond my Norman" came a few years ago during a road trip through Austin, Texas, home to the University of Texas, the PBS television program Austin City Limits and a city that prides itself on its many unique characters.