For decades, the giant Skateland neon sign stood near the corner of 11th and Sheridan in Tulsa. The roller rink there just off Route 66 was a Tulsa mainstay for decades. Ed and Wanda Enlow, who had been teaching skating at the Continental Roller Rink near 11th and Peoria, opened the family skating rink on … Continue reading Saving Skateland’s Neon
When I travel, I love to stay at historic properties. You can learn a lot about a place if you get the chance to live its history, even if it's in an abbreviated way. In May, I was exploring Casper, Wyoming and hadn't quite found what I was looking for regarding accommodations. I expanded my … Continue reading The Hotel Higgins
I love trains. I'm not a "foamer" (a term used by some for die-hard train enthusiasts). I can't tell you what all the parts and pieces do or differences between one train line and the next but I can tell you how they make me feel. There's something about the sight and sound that taps … Continue reading Welcome Back, Big Boy
Recently, Samantha and I traveled up to New York state to see her family. It had been over a year since we'd seen them and it felt good to get out of town for a while. We had a lovely time - we didn't go down into the City due to the curtain of COVID's … Continue reading Terni’s of Millerton
In February of 2015, a terrible fire ravaged downtown Barnsdall, Oklahoma. It wasn't the first time - many buildings in town have been lost to fire over the years, actually - but this one had a very specific family connection. My great-aunt Estelle ran a beauty parlor in town for most of her life. Her … Continue reading The Barnsdall Letterpresses
As I drove through Wyoming on the morning of May 26, I pulled off of Interstate 25 into the little community of Chugwater: population 212. The iconic bucking bronco that serves as the motif for Wyoming's brand (visible on license plates and many other items), "Steamboat", was born there. Additionally, it's the home of Wyoming's … Continue reading Chugwater, Wyoming
For over a year, I've been telling myself that once I get vaccinated I'm going to take a nice long road trip. My 40th birthday came and went and now, finally, I've gotten to stretch my legs a little bit. I didn't decide on where I was going until two days before I left; it … Continue reading A Long Awaited Journey (Part One)
This is Part II of our early May weekend trip to Oklahoma City. If you missed Part I, it's here. After enjoying an excellent breakfast at the Sunnyside Diner near our motel on Sunday morning, Samantha and I checked out and headed to the Britton District to visit with the owner of Brew Brother Coffee. … Continue reading OKC Weekend – Part II
Sometimes I get stuck in thinking the only valid way to take a vacation is to plan an entire week of exploring places I've never been before. That's a lovely experience and something I enjoy greatly -- but I have to be reminded that a weekend trip, even to an area I've been to many … Continue reading OKC Weekend – Part I
On Friday, I got shot. har har har My second COVID-19 Vaccine shot, that is! I spent most of Saturday feeling like I'd just barely avoided hangover and didn't quite make it. That's good - and today I woke up feeling completely normal. Normal enough for a little bit of driving - so I set … Continue reading Renewal in Osage County
