My friend Bruce shared an image on Instagram recently that sent me deep in thought. On the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, a stairwell pillar was covered with the following message: However, when you shift to look at the OTHER side of the column, the message changes: This settled deep in my … Continue reading The Value of Expression
I hadn't taken a Route 66 specific road trip in quite a while. Sure, I followed a Military Vehicle Convoy in September...but that wasn't really about the road itself. I did spend some time on Mother Road with Michael Wallis in June; but, that wasn't directly specific to 66 either. I was having withdrawals! I … Continue reading Back to the Route
After enjoying lunch at the Cozy Inn on Saturday, I set out to explore more of Salina, Kansas. You can read about the first part of my day here. For a town of about 50,000 it has a TON of beautiful architecture. The United Building, just a few doors down from the Cozy Inn, was … Continue reading Sunshine and Storm Clouds: Part II
"It feels good to not set an alarm," I told Samantha Friday night. She smiled a knowing smile and said, "Doesn't matter. You have road trip brain; you're gonna get up early anyway." She was right. Since I was planning a day trip through Kansas on Saturday, I woke without aid before 7:00 AM. By … Continue reading Sunshine and Storm Clouds: Part I
After Lucy the Elephant last Wednesday, the family met up at the boardwalk in Ocean City. I figured it would be more of the same since I'd seen the boardwalk in Wildwood...and it was, really, but the shops and attractions in Ocean City gave off a different vibe. Ocean City was better designed for children, … Continue reading Coasting to a Close
I don't really like to fly. I'd much rather travel by car, but, that's not always practical. For example, the drive from Oklahoma to New Jersey takes 21 hours straight through. Flying gets you across the country in half-a-day. Since we were heading to the east coast to spend time with family, it was only … Continue reading Shore Bound
I was talking to a friend the other day and realized a great many folks that I know today don't know about the international trip that kick-started my love of writing and passion for photography. After another friend shared a recent Tulsa World article about a couple that did something similar, I thought it might … Continue reading Around the World in 311 Days
When I have a road trip planned, it's easier to wake up early. Granted, I don't usually leave at 5:00 AM, but on Sunday that is what I did. I was attending a quarterly Oklahoma Route 66 Association meeting in Weatherford that afternoon and wanted to spend the morning exploring southwestern Oklahoma. Since that was … Continue reading Comanche Territory & Frontier Towns
I celebrated Independence Day near the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa. My perch was an exterior stairwell on the sixth floor of the Sophian Plaza, about a mile away from the city's largest nighttime fireworks display. Lately I've felt that I haven't had enough time in my days; it was nice to slow … Continue reading A Model Ford
In 2007, I was a technical support manager for Cingular Wireless, soon-to-be AT&T. I'd been with the company six years at that point and had been there for the transition from pagers to one-way-text capable phones to monophonic ringtones to basic internet access. I watched as Blackberry held on to the smartphone market against all … Continue reading iPhone – 10 Years Later
Rhys' Pieces 