Soap Box Racer

Racer in the Spavinaw, Oklahoma neighborhood Soap Box Derby

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.

2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: No Miles Are Being Driven This Month
2017: Partying Among Nations
2016: When You Need A Little Boost
2015: Celebrating At The Creek
2014: Show Ed Some Love And Crank Up The Good Luck Vibes!
2013: Canada Or Bust!
2012: Salena Scissorhands
2011: The Bald And The Beautiful
2010: Here To Win, Here To Stay
2009: Her Bosom Is Heaving, His Member Is Throbbing
2008: Worn By The Sea
2007: Spinning In The Night
2006: Forget Country Music! We Have Bungalows Full Of Breasts!!
2005: I Demand An Explanation

Giving Serious Side-Eye

 

Fish mural in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Good Samaritan Stops On His Way To The Brothel
2017: Reading Material
2016: Cough Cocktail
2015: 7 Great Travel Related Magazines
2014: Frozen
2013: Working Man And Walking Man
2012: I’m Too Thrifty For My Shirt, Too Thrifty For My Shirt, So Thrifty It Hurts
2011: Except It’s Not Four, It’s ONE
2010: A Few Pictures And Less Than A Thousand Words
2009: Explosions Of Color And Flavor
2008: A Big Gay Case Of Mistaken Identity
2007: Gilding The Shopping Lily
2006: Dog Day Afternoon
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

Glazed Address Of Distinction

This is the Adams Building in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It was built in 1928 and was originally a hotel.  It was built to attract businessmen who came to Tulsa for the first International Petroleum Exposition.  When it first opened, it advertised itself as the "Address of Distinction" and boasted 50 air-conditioned rooms.

The building has 13 stories with a full basement and penthouse. It is the 18th tallest building in the city.

Look at the beautiful detail.  The facade of the building is covered in glazed terra cotta tiles made by the Northwestern Terra Cotta Company.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Trucking And Two-Stepping Where Two Rivers Meet
2017: Summer Riding Fever
2016: People Who Live In Glass Houses Can Safely Click Links
2015: We've Got A $3 Million Dollar View, Too.
2014: Stripes On Ice
2013: Boy's Eye View
2012: Clear As The Blue Of The Indiana Sky
2011: Puttin’ On The Ritz
2010: Even Prisoners Get Bread And Water
2009: Hidden Fluff
2008: It’s Time For One Of These Again
2007: They Called My Name And Clutched The Collar Of My Shirt With Their Evil Cheese Stuffed Fingers
2006: Marlin Perkins Must Live In The Neighborhood
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

Sooner State Wind

Windmills in Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Punctuation IS Important

2018: Wipeout!

2017: Protecting The Garden

2016: A '58 Turns 58

2015: The Animals Came In Two By Two

2014: The Jolly Green Giant Lives In Blue Earth

2013: My Man's Got More Than A Million

2012: He Might Not Be Able To Move A Rubber Tree Plant, But He Can Certainly Get Transportation In California To Come To A Screeching Halt

2011: Business As Usual In America

2010: Teeny Tiny Cows Are So Delicious With A Side Of Teeny Tiny Tortellini

2009: Sleeping Atop Signal Hill

2008: Eddie Reads A Book Friday

2007: Finally! Someone Who Thinks I’m God’s Gift To Man

2006: Pool Shark

2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Queen Of The Tulsa Skyline

In December, we went to Texas for Ed's mom's funeral.  We were there for a little over two weeks.  We visited with family and friends - some friends of his dad's that his dad hadn't seen in over 20 years.  On one of the trips, we went to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit Ed's Uncle Davis.  He's an interesting character, very smart, an author of twelve books, and always has an upbeat outlook on everything.

So while there, we drove around and looked at some of the Art Deco buildings Tulsa is famous for.  Mostly, we just drove around so I could photograph the exteriors, but I was able to go into one of them.

At 427 South Boston Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma you’ll find the Philtower Building. Built in 1928, it was designed by prominent architect Edward Buehler Delk and financed by oilman Waite Phillips.

The building represents Gothic Revival architecture, has 24 floors, and is 323 feet tall. The interior of the entrance lobby is spectacular, as you can see in these photos.

From the banquettes to the elevator banks to the gorgeous ceiling!! Construction cost $2.5 million dollars. In 1928!! That would be the equivalent of $43.5 million dollars today! 

I love that mail chute.  And look at this ceiling detail.

The elevator banks have the initials WP on them, for Waite Phillips, the man who paid for the building to be constructed.

Even the elevator buttons are Art Deco-y.

I love the ornate details.  Imaging working in this building every day?  It's gorgeous. 

View looking toward the front door of the building.

More gorgeous ceiling work.

During the oil boom years, Philtower was often called the Queen of Tulsa’s Skyline.

Click HERE to see more information about the building.



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2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Blue Skies Ahead
2018: Happy 2018, Y'all!
2017: 2017 Is Looking Up
2016: Good Morning, 2016!
2015: A Good Sign For 2015
2014: Good Luck And Prosperity Is On The Way
2013: As Pure As The Driven Snow
2012: Quiet On The Set
2011: I’d Rather Get A Little Taste Of Mark Ruffalo Than Eat Swiss Chard
2010: Two Very Different Ideas Of Fun
2009: Caution: New Year Ahead!
2008: Fresh Dreams. Clean Slate. High Hopes. New You.
2007: Two Thousand Seven
2006: Happy New Year!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

An Artificial Cloud In The Center Of The Universe

 

We've been in Texas and Oklahoma recently, in the area where Ed's parents were born and raised.  While in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, we visited a site known as The Center Of The Universe.

Apparently, the spot is an "acoustic anomaly", creating a chamber where your voice echoes back to you several times louder than it was when you spoke your original words.  If you're a fan of Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone, you may remember him discovering this spot in the second episode.  

The sculpture located near the brick circle is called Artificial Cloud.  It was made by Chiricahua Apache artist Bob Haosous, and was erected in 1991.  

It's located just north of the Tulsa Union Depot, a beautiful Art Deco building built in 1931. It's just one of more than one hundred Art Deco buildings located in Tulsa.

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2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Standing On A Corner
2019: I Grew A Mater
2018: A Delicious Treat On My Day Off
2017: Getting Used To It
2016: Really Old School
2015: Christmas In The Sonoran Desert
2014: Boxing Day Mani-Pedi
2013: Racing Toward The New Year
2012: I Need A Support Group
2011: No One Mentioned The Elephant In The Room, But The Zebra Was A Big Topic Of Discussion
2010: White Chocolate Melts Away
2009: An Appetizer With Heart 
2008: Angelic Eddie Friday
2007: Would You Like A Fried Egg With A Side Of Influenza?
2006: Cerrado
2005: The Best Gift Of All 

Unlimited In Oklahoma

I took this shot of trailers in front of Motorsports Unlimited in McAlester, Oklahoma only because I liked the silver and red trailer.  Looks kinda retro, kinda cool. 



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2017: The Crucible
2016: Find Yourself
2015: Bringing Back The Library Card
2014: Moab Muster
2013: Farm To Garden
2012: You Know You’re Getting Old When You Start Carrying Your Own Sugar
2011: America Runs On Dunkin’
2010: Los Links!!
2009: Here Kitty Kitty Kitty
2008: Intense Eddie Friday
2007: It’s An iPod, Not A wePod
2006: Doing The Wade
2005: It’s A Numbers Game

Okie Eye Talian

Pete's Place in Krebs, Oklahoma has been cooking up Italian food since 1925.  We've passed the place a few times but had never stopped in.  Well, as luck would have it, last we were stranded overnight in the area and needed food.  Ed decided it was time to try Pete's.

We were led to our table, which turned out to be in its own private room.  We learned that Pete's Place had twenty-seven private dining rooms.  Kinda cool, but a little weird to be sitting alone in a room.  No people watching.  No activity.  No window. 

Not that I don't love spending time with my handsome husband, but I am three feet from him virtually twenty-four hours a day.  I like the atmosphere of a restaurant when we go out and this was, well, just odd. Please forgive the terrible picture - I didn't notice the glaring light until after I uploaded the pictures.

The menu was pretty straightforward, nothing fancy.  Although, Lambfries was something new to me.  I didn't even ask what they were because I don't like lamb, so I knew I wouldn't be trying them, but when I was writing this post, I Googled them.  Holy lamb balls!  I'm SO glad I didn't feel adventurous enough to try lamb that day.  Because, uh, the menu doesn't mention anything that would remotely tell you what they really are. Just eww.

You'll notice at the top of the menu, it states that all the entrees are served family style and include Spaghetti, Meatballs, Ravioli, Salad, Anti-Pasta Plate (um, it's antipasto), and Garlic Bread.

Every entree. 

So if you order a steak, or chicken parm, or fried chicken, or any of their main dishes, you're going to get salad and bread, an antipasto plate, spaghetti and meatballs, and ravioli.  Um, that's a meal in itself.

But, when in Rome...

We ordered a chicken parmesan and a lasagna and got all of the above.  The antipasto plate had 4 pieces of cheese, 4 green olives, and 2 pepperoncini.  The spaghetti and meatball platter had enough spaghetti for two people to have a generous serving and two meatballs.  And on the side of that platter were two homemade ravioli.

We had a small portion of everything and took most of the food home with us.  The salad was plain iceberg lettuce with their own dressing - a light, sweet dressing that turned out to be soy oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and spices.  I grew up on eating iceberg lettuce salads and still love it, the crisp crunch of it, and this dressing was surprisingly good.  I couldn't place what it was and would have never guessed apple cider vinegar.  They sell bottles of it in the lobby if you're inclined to take some home.

I thought the meatballs were delicious, but I wasn't thrilled with the flavor of the sauce that was on everything else.  The spaghetti was the standard thick spaghetti, I prefer thin.  The ravioli were meat filled, which I don't like, and the homemade dough was thick and well, doughy.  And the lasagna was meat-only lasagna, no ricotta, no mozzarella.  I put meat in my lasagna but always include the cheeses and prefer it that way.

The guy who started the place is from Italy and I wondered where since different regions prepare some of the same dishes in different ways - I thought that might be why they served meat ravioli and meat-only lasagna.  It turns out he was from the Campania region, where my family is from, but his style of cooking those items was definitely different.  Maybe it was just how his family made them.  Who's to say?

Overall, I wouldn't say the food was bad, but I can't say it was that great either.  Oh, I'm sure it's just fine for Krebs, Oklahoma (or most of Oklahoma for that matter) but it wasn't what I would consider great Italian food.  

There are a few other Italian places in town (which are connected to the family that runs Pete's - there were a few marriages between the families through the years) that I think we'll try next time we're in town. 

They are The Isle of Capri and Roseanna's, which I will definitely try because they have gnocchi on the menu!

And like we did this time, we'll make a stop at Lovera's to pick up a few must-haves.  This visit I picked up cheese, biscotti, pizzelle, and for our dessert, cannoli!  They were delicious!




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: After I Stop Laughing
2016: Manly Ribs
2015: My Brush With Nature
2014: Dear Summer,
2013: I Wrote This After A Day Of Doing Nothing, Sitting On My Ass, While I Watched TV  
2012: The Beautiful Strangler
2011: Art Enables Us To Find Ourselves And Lose Ourselves At The Same Time
2010: Even God Can’t Help Men
2009: My President’s House
2008: Don’t Give Up Hope If You Just Don’t Know What You Want To Be When You Grow Up, You Have Choices
2007: Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready For My Close Up
2006: Stone Magnolia
2005: Fitty Nine!!!

Bull Riding Inside The Big Mac

It was a dreary, rainy day in but I still managed to get a shot of the prison rodeo rider as we traveled US-270 into McAlester, Oklahoma.  You see it and say, "Whaaattt?"

Well, that bull-riding prisoner is a nod to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo. 

Started in 1940, with a few breaks for World War II and an inmate uprising in 1970, the rodeo was held every summer until 2009.  By 2010, staff shortages and lack of funds to repair the rodeo stadium brought the rodeo to an official end.

There was some talk in 2015 about bringing the rodeo back, but so far nothing has moved forward and it might have something to do with the animal abuse allegations.

Whatever the reason, the inmates in OSP are no longer riding bulls.  It's probably a good idea to limit the aggressive activities of inmates.  Perhaps OSP should consider a knitting group.



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2017: Thirty And Eight Twenty
2016: Saturday's Child Works Hard For A Living
2015: Along The Shores Of The Unpredictable Cat
2014: I Think I Saw A Nimbostratus
2013: Ed Breaking Bad In The Lap Pool
2012: View From The Bridge
2011: Small Place, Big Flavor
2010: La Vita è Bella 
2009: He Looks Much Better Here Than On The Penny
2008: One Of The Few Places In Iowa NOT Under Water
2007: We Need A Manager On Register Three Please!
2006: Mobile Misses

Pastoral

A field in Jennings, Oklahoma.  


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2017: Dune Crawl
2016: The Closest I Get To Camping
2015: This Guy Rocks It, Man
2014: Pillows Of Deliciousness
2013: Staring Me Down On Dad's Day
2012: Load Check
2011: Hotel Special Effects In An Instant
2010: The Great American Shoe Hunt
2009: The First Glimpse Of The People’s Coast
2008: Ohhhh, So This Is How It Works
2007: Can You Hear Me Stereotyping Now?
2006: In The Kitchen With Eddie
2005: Top Ten

Getting Soaked By The Choctaws

The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.



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2017: Catering To The Mothers
2016: Checking The Shot
2015: The World Races To Newport
2014: Every Time You Open Your Mouth Diamonds Come Rolling Out
2013: The Real Way To Save The Planet
2012: Lunch At The Park
2011: I’ve Got A Crush On You
2010: The D’Angelo Bros. Outfit The Navy
2009: One Day A Revered Indian Chief, The Next Day Wagon Train Eye Candy
2008: Not Exactly The Best Way To Reach Out To Your Community
2007: Carny At The Junction
2006: Mother Superior
2005: Great Expectations

The Wild Life Of Trucking

I always like seeing wildlife while I'm traveling, especially when they don't come in direct contact with my vehicle.

The place we deliver has three groups of animals that are always roaming the grassy areas that flank the roads on the facility.  They're obviously used to seeing people because they are not afraid of vehicles, horn honks, or crazy trucker chicks yelling out the window at them to smile for the camera.

The animals we see most often, in large numbers, are deer and wild turkeys (which actually honk back if you honk your horn at them).  They're curious and rarely run off. Sometimes they dart along next to the truck before heading out into the wooded area.

We've also seen armadillos.  Armadillos!!  I tried to get a picture of an armadillo last week but he was shuffling through the grass - quite quickly to my surprise - in the opposite direction.  I'll have to try again next time.

Other cute creatures I've seen in the trucking wild are elk, deer, bald eagles, caribou, moose, bears (I hit one once, in Northern California), buffalo or bison, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, miniature ponies, zebras, plow horses, regular horses, coyotes.

Boy, what a menagerie!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Special Order
2015: Clooney Was Not At The End Of The Pier
2014: Where They Build Palaces Out Of Corn
2013: Modern Market Girl
2012: A Berry Good Time
2011: Traveling Through Mountain Ranch
2010: Backroads
2009: If Only I Could Fit All Of This Information On A Bumper Sticker…
2008: Gambling Haze
2007: Published
2006: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Tree Leans In Atoka

While taking a short break, waiting for Ed to wake up to start his shift behind the wheel, I parked and took in the view of this tree in Atoka, Oklahoma.

"Atoka was founded by the Choctaw Indians in the 1850s, and named for Captain Atoka, a leader of the Choctaw Nation and the signer of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which began the process of re-locating the Choctaw people from Mississippi to Oklahoma in 1830.

The name "Atoka" is derived from the Choctaw word hitoka (or hetoka), which means "ball ground" in English.  He is believed to be buried near the town of Farris. Atoka is the site of the oldest Catholic parish in the Indian Territory, the oldest chapter of the Freemasons in Oklahoma, and the oldest chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma."

Mini history lesson complete.



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2016: Furniture Recon
2015: Deck Walkers
2014: The Land Of The Blue Angels
2013: Taking A KW For A Spin
2012: New York And Snow – My Two Favorite Things
2011: Doin’ The Math
2010: Well, Butter My Butt And Call Me A Biscuit
2009: I Even Have Time To Go On Strike
2008: Teaching Them Young
2007: You Gotta Be In It To Win It
2006: Cinema Stupido
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Be Virtually Anywhere

My Real Life boyfriend wearing his new Virtual Reality headset. 

We had a layover in Oklahoma.  He left the truck to get a few Redbox movies and came back with the movies, two kinds of microwave popcorn, a gallon of drinking water, and this headset.  I should have known something was up when he was gone for almost an hour.  It doesn't take an hour to pick out two movies.

He set them up immediately when he got back to the truck, and for the next hour moved his head around like Stevie Wonder.  Up, down, side to side.  He even stood up at one point and turned around, still looking up down, side to side.

He let me try them and they're actually pretty cool.  You really feel like you're in the scene that you're looking at.  I walked the streets of Venice, stood on a cliff in Greece to watch the cliff divers, and marveled at the brilliant white snow on the Swiss Alps.

Yep, I'm definitely losing Ed for a while.

He has a new mistress.



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2015: This Is Not 100% Natural Spring Water
2014: Teamwork
2013: Pecan Bacon Syrup. Need I Say More?
2012: That’s Right, The Entire Web
2011: And We Have A Winner!!
2010: So What’s Wrong With A Good Idea?
2009: Where Is A Palm Reader When I Need One?
2008: Fred’s Plan Appears To Have Backfired
2007: Eddie Plays A Round Friday
2006: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
2005: 50 Little Facts About Alaska

Modern Vintage

A young kid in Oklahoma, driving an old truck, painted to look distressed, while he texts on his newfangled phone.



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2015: Happy Labor Day!
2014: Teamwork
2013: Pecan Bacon Syrup. Need I Say More?
2012: That’s Right, The Entire Web
2011: And We Have A Winner!!
2010: So What’s Wrong With A Good Idea?
2009: Where Is A Palm Reader When I Need One?
2008: Fred’s Plan Appears To Have Backfired
2007: Eddie Plays A Round Friday
2006: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
2005: 50 Little Facts About Alaska