Settling into the house.
Total approximate milage 3195.
Total Fuel (from the reciepts I saved): 173.8 gallons.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Driving to Albuquerque.
After seeing the memorial and spending 3 nights in OKC, we were ready to start back on the road. We discussed briefly the idea of spending the night in Amarillo, TX but were making great time in great weather, and felt pretty good. As far as we could tell from the interstate there really isn't much to Amarillo so we decided to press on.
The drive from OKC to ABQ is not particularly exciting. 540 miles of gradually gaining elevation and green turning into brown. IN Amarillo there is a restaurant where if you can eat there 72 oz (4.5 pound for the math disinclinded) steak with the sides in less than an hour, its free. Somewhere in Texas just south of 40 there is a cross that is several hundred feet high. They claim it to be the largest in the western hemisphere. I wonder where the biggest one is? We didn't stop.
We actually were still miles away from the thing at this point.
This is basically the experience of driving from OKC to Amarillo.
So we cleaned the windshield a lot because there were a lot of bugs. Here is a sampling of dead insects from my rear view mirror.
The drive from OKC to ABQ is not particularly exciting. 540 miles of gradually gaining elevation and green turning into brown. IN Amarillo there is a restaurant where if you can eat there 72 oz (4.5 pound for the math disinclinded) steak with the sides in less than an hour, its free. Somewhere in Texas just south of 40 there is a cross that is several hundred feet high. They claim it to be the largest in the western hemisphere. I wonder where the biggest one is? We didn't stop.
We actually were still miles away from the thing at this point.
This is basically the experience of driving from OKC to Amarillo.
So we cleaned the windshield a lot because there were a lot of bugs. Here is a sampling of dead insects from my rear view mirror.
Oklahoma City National Memorial.
At 9:02 am on April 19, 1995 racist terrorist Timothy McVeigh detonated a Ryder truck in front of the Alfred Murrah federal building, murdering 168 people, including 19 children and an additional three unborn babies being carried by pregnant victims.
The building itself was damaged beyond repair, and had to be demolished. A new federal building sits on a nearby block. The site of the prior federal building is now a memorial park.
The park is bracketed by two large black gates. The 9:01 gate symbolizes the innocence of the city prior to the bombing. The 9:03 gate symbolizes how the city was changed after the bombing. Between the gates is a reflecting pool. On one side of the pool are 168 empty chairs.
On the other side there are trees that remember the rescue workers.
We come here to remember
Those who were killed, those who survived and those who were changed forever.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence.
May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.
Written by US&R team members during rescue efforts.
168 empty chairs.
The building itself was damaged beyond repair, and had to be demolished. A new federal building sits on a nearby block. The site of the prior federal building is now a memorial park.
The park is bracketed by two large black gates. The 9:01 gate symbolizes the innocence of the city prior to the bombing. The 9:03 gate symbolizes how the city was changed after the bombing. Between the gates is a reflecting pool. On one side of the pool are 168 empty chairs.
On the other side there are trees that remember the rescue workers.
We come here to remember
Those who were killed, those who survived and those who were changed forever.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence.
May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.
Written by US&R team members during rescue efforts.
168 empty chairs.
Part of the original building.
OKC
We got into OKC last Thursday. We checked into the Sheridan. We walked to bricktown in search of a bar with the MLB package so John could get his Phillies fix. Tragically the major thunderstorm that we hit on the way to OKC had somehow disrupted direcTV reception at every bar in town. Every one of the 5 places we went to had on the same two programs: USAvs China men's vollyball and the world series of women's softball.
At least the beer was good. The nachos were pretty enjoyable as well.
Friday went out with Allison, a friend of mine from NC, and some of her friends. Caught most of the Phils' game and then onto a cigar bar where we heard this awesome rock/blues/southern rock coverband that had a front man who could best be described as a Santa Claus' lecterous alcoholic brother. Good times.
Sat we had headaches and felt poorly. A low key night out watching the Phils again. Sunday we left town, but stopped by the OKC National Memorial on our way out of town.
At least the beer was good. The nachos were pretty enjoyable as well.
Friday went out with Allison, a friend of mine from NC, and some of her friends. Caught most of the Phils' game and then onto a cigar bar where we heard this awesome rock/blues/southern rock coverband that had a front man who could best be described as a Santa Claus' lecterous alcoholic brother. Good times.
Sat we had headaches and felt poorly. A low key night out watching the Phils again. Sunday we left town, but stopped by the OKC National Memorial on our way out of town.
Monday, July 20, 2009
FYI
No internet at the house for roughly 2 weeks per comcast.
Obtained a netbook at a best buy and am going to be sporradically online at various coffee shops and so forth.
House is awesome. Can't wait to have my stuff moved in.
Obtained a netbook at a best buy and am going to be sporradically online at various coffee shops and so forth.
House is awesome. Can't wait to have my stuff moved in.
more authenticity.
Blazing through the barren wilderness of rural Oklahoma our attention was grabbed by several large billboards professing "real beef jerky." We love jerky, and we love the authentic experience. John demanded we stop. I offered no complaint.
In this lovely establishment we obtained a plastic cylinder containing two pounds of the wonderful dried meat known as jerky. This particularly jerky had the consistency of bark but was even drier; yet when chewed it melted into an explosion of delicious peppery, meaty goodness. I have the last of in the kitchen at the house here in ABQ - there was so much that despite chewing on it routinely for the better part of a week the two of us were unable to finish it.
Next post: OKC
In this lovely establishment we obtained a plastic cylinder containing two pounds of the wonderful dried meat known as jerky. This particularly jerky had the consistency of bark but was even drier; yet when chewed it melted into an explosion of delicious peppery, meaty goodness. I have the last of in the kitchen at the house here in ABQ - there was so much that despite chewing on it routinely for the better part of a week the two of us were unable to finish it.
Next post: OKC
Memphis to OKC - searching for the authentic experience.
We left Memphis hot sweaty and tired. Graceland had been fun, but the heat was brutal. Memphis outside of Graceland seemed to basically be a dump as far as we could tell. We decided to get away and make up some time.
Somewhere in the middle of BFE nowhere in Oklahoma we stopped in some no name town for gas. John's iPhone indicated a proximity alarm for BBQ. We investigated. The iPhone led us a short distance away from the highway and down some side street where we found this amazing hole in the wall BBQ stand. Absolutely amazing. I had a brisket sandwich with some slaw. John had a meal which I could best describe as "bucket of various delicious meat."
Somewhere in the middle of BFE nowhere in Oklahoma we stopped in some no name town for gas. John's iPhone indicated a proximity alarm for BBQ. We investigated. The iPhone led us a short distance away from the highway and down some side street where we found this amazing hole in the wall BBQ stand. Absolutely amazing. I had a brisket sandwich with some slaw. John had a meal which I could best describe as "bucket of various delicious meat."
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Arrival
Well we made it here to Albuquerque after several fun days in Oklahoma City - a truely hidden gem of a city. More updates to come.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Walking in Memphis, or, Elvis is everywhere.
Memphis. Graceland. 100 degrees in the shade. Very interesting tour.
In the Elvis car museum
In the Elvis car museum
Gravesite. People were crying. 
There is a pretty little thing, waiting for the king, down in the jungle room.
front of the house. He bought it from a doctor who had a wife named Grace. Thus, Graceland.
Mirrored stairs to the basement.
There is a pretty little thing, waiting for the king, down in the jungle room.
front of the house. He bought it from a doctor who had a wife named Grace. Thus, Graceland.
Mirrored stairs to the basement.
Karyoke in Nashville
So we met up with two college friends of mine Tony and Lauren at a bar in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. It was Karyoke night at the bar. So Nashville being music city, they take their karyoke night very seriously. It was also BOGO beer night. Hilarious. Good times.
Imagine a 50 something year old state employed practicing attorney with a budweiser and a cigarrette yelling at the crowd telling them they are a bunch of "heiney wipers" and they need to "get off your -explitive removed- assess" and listen to some "real -explitive removed- music." Then sitting next to us and saying "as your attorney I advise you to drink your assess off"
My friend Lauren
John proudly displays his token, signifying that he has purchased a beer and is now entited to an additional beer for free.
Imagine a 50 something year old state employed practicing attorney with a budweiser and a cigarrette yelling at the crowd telling them they are a bunch of "heiney wipers" and they need to "get off your -explitive removed- assess" and listen to some "real -explitive removed- music." Then sitting next to us and saying "as your attorney I advise you to drink your assess off"
My friend Lauren
John proudly displays his token, signifying that he has purchased a beer and is now entited to an additional beer for free.
This is a shamrock in a Guinness head.
Jack Daniels Distillary - Lynchburg, TN
So Tuesday in Nashville went to the JD distillary. Good times, Highly reccomended. Believe it or not, the distillary is in a dry county. So you cannot drink after the tour, even though they basically hype it up you are shaking and salivating like an alcoholic at the end of the tour. Walking through the barrel house there is enough alcohol vapor in the air to get a contact high.
Pretty much.
They burn the cedar wood under these scrubbers down to charcoal which then they use to filter the liquor.
The hills are full of the barrel houses that store the handmade cedar barrels by the hundreds.
The distillary used to have its own fire brigade. Now they use the city . REO Speed Wagon!
Jack and I.
The company slogan since the 1800s. Pretty neat.
As labeled. Smelled great.
Pretty much.
They burn the cedar wood under these scrubbers down to charcoal which then they use to filter the liquor.
The hills are full of the barrel houses that store the handmade cedar barrels by the hundreds.
The distillary used to have its own fire brigade. Now they use the city . REO Speed Wagon!
Jack and I.
The company slogan since the 1800s. Pretty neat.
As labeled. Smelled great.
many updates tonight
so here we are in *fabulous* Russellville, AR. Lots of fun over 2 days in Nashville, catching up with friends and visiting the Jack Daniels distillary in Lynchburg. Today went to Graceland and then pushed on west of Little Rock. Going to try to get a bunch of pics and stuff uploaded.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
More Folly Beach Pictures From Mandy's Camera.
Here I am in the water with Donna. It was really sunny out.
Mandy and I. Still really sunny.
Donna and Mandy
Believe it or not, I actually wasn't the palest guy on the beach.
Group shot before we headed to dinner.
Another Day on Folly Beach
Greetings again everyone and good morning. Had a lot of fun on Folly beach again yesterday. Slept in, late start and then worked out at the house but still had time for a good two hours in the water. Managed to avoid sunburn with help of a quart of spf 30. After we cleared off the beach we went over to the crab shack where we demolished a large quantity of seafood.
Weather: mid 80s. Sunny. Scattered clouds. Breezy.
Activities: Sleeping late, working out, sitting on the beach, swimming in ocean, eating lots of seafood, kind of over feeling sorry for all you people at work.
Dinner plate: after
Dinner plate: before
Get it? "No wake zone"
Get this man a seafood platter, stat!
Surfer Lance
John, Donna, Mandy and Lance are all out in this picture somewhere. Surf was so calm.
Weather: mid 80s. Sunny. Scattered clouds. Breezy.
Activities: Sleeping late, working out, sitting on the beach, swimming in ocean, eating lots of seafood, kind of over feeling sorry for all you people at work.
Dinner plate: after
Dinner plate: before
Get it? "No wake zone"
Get this man a seafood platter, stat!
Surfer Lance
John, Donna, Mandy and Lance are all out in this picture somewhere. Surf was so calm.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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