Back in 2011, I had my very first public exhibit of my photography. I set up a single table at the Blue Dome Arts Festival and sat under my brand-new tent, eager to share the stories behind the photos I'd selected. I had a pair of canvas prints made and a selection of photos from … Continue reading No Place like Dome
"We're going on a secret road trip Saturday," I told Samantha on Wednesday. She asked for a hint; I told her there was a hint in the front yard. She guessed for days. Eureka Springs? A craft show? Some obscure diner in the middle of nowhere? Nothing seemed to tie to the front yard, though. … Continue reading Strawberry Feels
My mother-in-law is in town this weekend. I am thankful that these visits do not come with the stereotypical hand-wringing and stress; I'm always happy when Cindy comes to town from New York. She's a great lady. Additionally, Samantha is on Cloud Nine the entire time; they usually spend most of the time junk-store shopping anyway. … Continue reading Backroad Bridgehunting
Last weekend was the first (hopefully annual) NeonFest in Arcadia, Oklahoma. Several of my roadie friends decided to put on a small festival dedicated to the iconic roadside signage that has lined the Mother Road for decades. People were coming from all over the US to check it out! Arcadia is a town of ~250 and … Continue reading A Buzzing in the Air
When people think of Oklahoma, it's not often their first mental image conjures up a lot of blue. Perhaps the golden tones of the waving wheat, the orange or crimson of our primary college sports teams...or perhaps the emerald tones of the farmland in our northeast corner (locally known as 'Green Country'). However, we do have … Continue reading Okie Blue
I love getting to experience my city for new visitors. I also really enjoy showing people what's so special about Route 66. Today, I was able to do both AND showcase some of Oklahoma's unique landscape for my friend Rose. I met Rose in 2010 when I attended my first DragonCon. If you've never heard of that, … Continue reading Sooner State Show-Off
The last few weeks have been hectic in the Martin household. In fact, the Martin household no longer includes a house! We listed our home for sale in early March...and it sold in five hours. We found a house we want to move into, but, the schedule just didn't work out. We've been spending nearly every … Continue reading A Much-Needed Escape
In 2016, I started a journey back in time. I’d always heard about iconic places like Pennington’s Drive-In, the Italian Inn, and My Pi Pizza but I never got the chance to experience them. Thanks to many hours of research and interviews, I have an understanding of the eating places that defined Tulsa for the … Continue reading Lost Restaurants of Tulsa
Back in October of 2014, I took a little roadtrip into southeast Kansas. I had never visited the town where my father was born and it sounded like as good a destination as any. I was reminiscing a bit tonight and noticed I never shared the experience here. My writing was a lot different back … Continue reading A Look Back in Southeast Kansas
Friday morning, I woke early. 5:00 AM early, in fact. I had a decision to make. Should I drive straight home, or should I map a full day of driving? I had a few locations saved that I could detour to see, including a theatre in Poplar Bluff that's been on my list for YEARS. It would … Continue reading The Poplar Vote
Rhys' Pieces 